If electrons are elementary according to the standard model how do they emit photons?

Question

Are they in any sense composed of energy that can be divided into photons and would this make them any less "fundamental"? Does the photon's wavelike qualities impact the question?

Answer 1

You're probably talking about the Bohr model, and why it fails. When electrons gain energy, they become excited. They then rise to a higher orbital state because of this excitement up until a maximum level. Then, as they fall, they emit energy in the form of visible light. Photons are nothing more than energy; it has zero and unchangeable mass. Therefore, it is pure energy. I guess its wave-like qualities contribute to the fact that it does not behave like a real particle. Photons are not "made" by the electron; they are the result of the conversion the electron makes from heat energy to light energy. Electrons are still elementary particles; if anything, photons are not in the same elementary class as electrons. (particles divided into 2 classes: fermions and bosons). Because they fall into different classes, no one is more elementary than the other.

Answer 2

The energy level of the electron is changed.As a simple example. Are you fundamentally changed if you come down a flight of 50 steps wearing wooden clogs giving out heat and sound at each step.It's a thought experiment.You might sometime look at this months issue of the New Scientist where the actual nature of some of these fundamentals is questioned in 'The Universe is a string-net liquid.'Dont worry about any possible effect of this on 'A' level physics before you are a pensioner. Cheers