Why are magnetic and electric fields not considered the same?

[jaydnul]

Why are magnetic fields and electric fields still considered different phenomena? Doesn't relativity and QFT explain that they are the same thing. A photon is a photon, isn't it? I mean, what is happening when two magnets repel? They exchange photons. What happens when two electrons repel? They exchange photons.

(A genuine question, I'm not trying to administer any insight)

 

[mfb]

Why are magnetic fields and electric fields still considered different phenomena?

Often the link between electric and magnetic fields is not relevant.

In the same way, it is possible to unify the electromagnetic and the weak interaction - but we still consider beta-decays and light as two different phenomena, because high-energy physics is the only field where the connection between the two is relevant.

 

[davenn]

Why are magnetic fields and electric fields still considered different phenomena? Doesn't relativity and QFT explain that they are the same thing. A photon is a photon, isn't it? I mean, what is happening when two magnets repel? They exchange photons. What happens when two electrons repel? They exchange photons.

(A genuine question, I'm not trying to administer any insight)

a static magnetic field isn't comprised of photons


Dave

 

[jaydnul]

a static magnetic field isn't comprised of photons


Dave

What is the gauge boson for a static magnetic field?

 

[Drakkith]

FYI, the posts above me were split from another thread and moved into this one.