Can there be massive photons? A pedagogical glance at the origin of mass

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dc.contributor.authorRobles, P.
dc.contributor.authorClaro, F.
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-20T23:57:16Z
dc.date.available2025-01-20T23:57:16Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractAmong the most startling experiences a student encounters is learning that, unlike electrons and other elementary particles, photons have no mass. Under certain circumstances, however, the light quantum behaves as if it did have a finite mass. Starting from Maxwell's equations, we discuss how this arises when light interacts with a charged plasma, or travels along a waveguide. The motion of such photons is analysed using kinematic concepts of special relativity, and we show how a cutoff frequency for effective propagation appears. Seeing how an environment may yield an apparent dynamic mass to the photon paves the way for later understanding: might the Higgs boson field provide other particles, such as the electron, with a mass? This paper is addressed to mid-level physics students, teachers and lecturers, requiring only a knowledge of classical electromagnetic and special relativity theories.
dc.description.funderEscuela de Ingenieria Electrica, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1088/0143-0807/33/5/1217
dc.identifier.eissn1361-6404
dc.identifier.issn0143-0807
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/33/5/1217
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/95201
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:000307579500020
dc.issue.numero5
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final1226
dc.pagina.inicio1217
dc.revistaEuropean journal of physics
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subject.ods13 Climate Action
dc.subject.odspa13 Acción por el clima
dc.titleCan there be massive photons? A pedagogical glance at the origin of mass
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen33
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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