Virtual particles in interactions

[lntz]

Hi,

so we have just started doing some physics of fundamental particles etc at school.

i am reading a lot about the exchange of 'virtual' photons etc. i am confused about whether these particles actually exist in a physical sense or whether they just have to be there to conserve quantities?

i know that is quite vague, but what is actually meant by a virtual particle?

thanks in advance for any light you can shed.

lntz.

 

[jtbell]

This subject has been debated a lot on PF. A couple of old threads, more or less at random:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=302923

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=75307