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In modern physics, the photon is the elementary particle responsible for electromagnetic phenomena. It mediates electromagnetic interactions and makes up all forms of light. The photon has zero invariant mass and travels at the constant speed c, the speed of light in empty space. However, in the presence of matter, a photon can be slowed or even absorbed, transferring energy and momentum proportional to its frequency. Like all quanta, the photon has both wave and particle properties; it exhibits wave–particle duality.
The modern concept of the photon was developed gradually (1905–17) by Albert Einstein[2][3][4][5] to explain experimental observations that did not fit the classical wave model of light. In particular, the photon model accounted for the frequency dependence of light's energy, and explained the ability of matter and radiation to be in thermal equilibrium. Other physicists sought to explain these anomalous observations by semiclassical models, in which light is still described by Maxwell's equations but the material objects that emit and absorb light are quantized. Although these semiclassical models contributed to the development of quantum mechanics, further experiments proved Einstein's hypothesis that light itself is quantized; the quanta of light are photons.
The photon concept has led to momentous advances in experimental and theoretical physics, such as lasers, Bose–Einstein condensation, quantum field theory, and the probabilistic interpretation of quantum mechanics. According to the Standard Model of particle physics, photons are responsible for producing all electric and magnetic fields, and are themselves the product of requiring that physical laws have a certain symmetry at every point in spacetime. The intrinsic properties of photons — such as charge, mass and spin — are determined by the properties of this gauge symmetry. Photons have many applications in technology such as photochemistry, high-resolution microscopy, and measurements of molecular distances. Recently, photons have been studied as elements of quantum computers and for sophisticated applications in optical communication such as quantum cryptography.
2006-12-08 22:57:34
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answer #1
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answered by mallimalar_2000 7
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A quantum of electromagnetic energy. Like electrons, photons appear as both waves and particles at the same time. Quite often, a photon is said to be a "particle of light;" however, radio transmission, X-rays and gamma rays are also made up of particles.
In modern physics, the photon is the elementary particle responsible for electromagnetic phenomena
The photon was originally called a "light quantum" (das Lichtquant) by Albert Einstein.[2] The modern name "photon" derives from the Greek word for light
a photon is usually denoted by the symbol , the Greek letter gamma. This symbol for the photon likely derives from gamma rays,
2006-12-08 22:36:39
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answer #2
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answered by star_aries 2
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Its a way of imagining how light behaves. In some circumstances its useful to think of light as a particle- say when it triggers a response from a single point on a photodetector or when it bounces off a mirror. Thinking of it as a particle, it can't be split in half - you can't have half a photon. Also its its own anti-particle (which means it can go backwards in time !) At other times thinking of it as a particle can be mis-leading, e.g. intuitively you'd think a particle has weight and a definite position - which light doesn't .
I once heard it said that, "light travels as a wave and arrives as a particle".
2006-12-08 23:32:46
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answer #3
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answered by black sheep 2
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confident. Photons can create be counted. in the approach called pair manufacturing, a somewhat over a million.1MEV gamma ray (photon) can create 2 debris; a positron an an electron, each having an equivalent finished potential of 0.55MEV. in spite of the incontrovertible fact that because of the fact the potential is switched over to mass the a lot created will no longer be shifting on the cost of light yet at slower velocities. growing to be easily molecules out of photons on my own in spite of the incontrovertible fact it incredibly is a distant probability because of the fact atoms encompass distinctive debris with distinctive characteristics and needn't be created by employing photons on my own. maximum debris heavier than electrons are produced from quarks.
2016-12-18 10:16:01
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answer #4
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answered by schluckerbier 4
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It is an individual partical of light. It can behave as a partical or as a wave. It has zero mass and therefore travels only through spacial demensions and at the fastest possable velocity. Since none of its velocity is traveling through the dimension of time a photon does not age.
2006-12-08 22:23:32
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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A photon is a quantum of electromagnetic radiation, usually considered as an elementary particle that is its own antiparticle and that has zero rest mass and charge and a spin of one.
2006-12-08 22:22:22
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answer #6
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answered by macster00007 2
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Photons are packets of light rays
2006-12-08 22:32:50
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answer #7
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answered by Arun K 1
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A light particle.
2006-12-08 22:22:10
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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it's the quantum of light.
look it up on wikipedia.org, it's free and of high quality
2006-12-08 22:22:39
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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