Electron mass density approaches infinity?

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of mass and charge density for point particles, specifically the electron. While the traditional understanding is that point particles have finite mass, the uncertainty principle suggests they may also have a finite radius. However, this concept of density does not apply to point particles and is only a simplification. There are published measurements of electron charge densities, indicating that the theory has been accepted. Some researchers have also studied the Wigner distribution for photons and the concept of density does make sense for massive systems such as confined quarks. However, others argue that the spread of a wave function should not be confused with a particle's property.
  • #1
Loren Booda
3,125
4
The electron is traditionally considered a point particle with finite mass. Does this indicate that the electron might have near infinite mass density?
 
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  • #2
no. its just a simplification. the uncertainty principle would cause it to have finite radius.
 
  • #3
"Mass density" or "charge density" cannot be defined for a point particle.
 
  • #4
I don't think anyone knows yet what is really going on there, but if nowadays' theories are correct, and all elementary parcticles are point parcticles, there is indeed no meaning to density in the parcticle scale, it's just our way to express the forces particles apply on each other on the macroscopic scale.
 
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  • #5
granpa said:
no. its just a simplification. the uncertainty principle would cause it to have finite radius.

That doesn't sound right to me. What would that radius be?
 
  • #6
clem said:
"Mass density" or "charge density" cannot be defined for a point particle.
There are published measurements of electron charge densities. That means the theory has been accepted, don't you think ? There are published measurements of Wigner distributions for photons in cavities. Even for massive extreme relativistic systems, such as light quarks confined in hadrons, the concepts of "mass/energy density", "angular momentum density", or "force densities" do make sense.

For instance :
"Tomographic theory for obtaining Wigner distribution for an electron in uniform magnetic field"
Phys. Lett. A301 (2002) 153

"Direct Measurement of the Wigner Function of a One-Photon Fock State in a Cavity"
Phys. Rev. Lett. 89 (2002) 200402

"Generalized parton distributions and strong forces inside nucleons and nuclei"
Phys.Lett. B555 (2003) 57
 
  • #7
Vanadium 50 said:
That doesn't sound right to me. What would that radius be?

I too don't know where he is going with this, but I believe he meant the "radios" of how far the particle can be
 
  • #8
I think some people have confused the spread of a wave function with a property of a particle.
 

Related to Electron mass density approaches infinity?

1. What does "electron mass density approaches infinity" mean?

Electron mass density approaching infinity refers to the idea that the mass of an electron becomes infinitely large as it approaches the speed of light.

2. How does this concept relate to Einstein's theory of relativity?

This concept is a fundamental part of Einstein's theory of relativity, which states that as an object's speed approaches the speed of light, its mass and energy also increase. This is known as the mass-energy equivalence.

3. What are the implications of electron mass density approaching infinity?

The implications of this concept are significant in the fields of quantum mechanics and particle physics. It helps us understand the behavior of particles at high speeds and in extreme conditions, such as near black holes.

4. Is this concept proven by scientific evidence?

Yes, this concept has been proven by numerous experiments and observations in the field of particle physics, including the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. The behavior of particles at high speeds has also been validated through mathematical models and equations.

5. How does this concept impact our understanding of the universe?

The concept of electron mass density approaching infinity has revolutionized our understanding of the universe, as it has allowed scientists to make accurate predictions and calculations about the behavior of particles in extreme conditions. It has also contributed to the development of technologies such as particle accelerators and has deepened our understanding of fundamental forces and particles in the universe.

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