Photon in a massless mirrored box

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of inertial and gravitational mass in a system consisting of a photon bouncing around in a massless mirrored box. It is suggested that the mass of the system would be equal to the mass of the heated cavity enclosure plus a mass associated with the enclosed photon gas. References are requested for further information on this concept. In conclusion, it is stated that although a photon has no rest mass, a system of a photon trapped in a massless mirrored box would have a rest mass greater than zero.
  • #1
Rap
827
10
Suppose we have a photon bouncing around in a massless mirrored box - does this system have inertial and/or gravitational mass? To be more realistic, if we have a massive black body cavity at some temperature above absolute zero, will the inertial and/or gravitational mass be equal to the mass of the heated cavity enclosure plus a mass associated with the enclosed photon gas, which I guess would be the sum of [tex]h\nu/c^2[/tex] over every photon enclosed?
 
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  • #2
Yes.
 
  • #3
Do you know of any references that deal with the inertial/gravitational mass of a photon?
 
  • #4
Rap said:
Do you know of any references that deal with the inertial/gravitational mass of a photon?
Anyway it's not difficult to prove it: the photon gas system has zero total momentum p, in the frame of reference in which the box or the cavity is still, so, from the equation:

E2 = (mc2)2 + (cp)2

you deduce that E = mc2. That is: the photon gas has a non zero mass m equal to its total energy divided by c2.
Of course it's invariant mass (not "relativistic" mass or other).
 
  • #5
This is what I thought. In other words, although a photon has no rest mass, a system consisting of a photon trapped in a massless mirrored box will have a rest mass > 0. I am looking for a reference for this idea.
 

Related to Photon in a massless mirrored box

1. What is a photon in a massless mirrored box?

A photon is a unit of light or electromagnetic radiation that has no mass. A massless mirrored box refers to a hypothetical scenario in which a photon is trapped inside a perfectly reflective container, bouncing back and forth between the mirrors without ever escaping.

2. Why is it important to study photons in massless mirrored boxes?

Studying photons in massless mirrored boxes can provide insights into the behavior of light and its interactions with matter. It can also help us understand the concept of energy conservation and the role of boundary conditions in quantum mechanics.

3. How does a photon behave in a massless mirrored box?

In a massless mirrored box, a photon will continuously bounce off the mirrored walls, maintaining its energy and momentum while changing direction. This behavior is governed by the laws of reflection and the conservation of energy and momentum.

4. Can a photon escape from a massless mirrored box?

No, a photon cannot escape from a massless mirrored box as long as the mirrors are perfectly reflective. If the mirrors are not perfect, some of the photon's energy may be absorbed, causing it to eventually dissipate.

5. What are some real-world applications of studying photons in massless mirrored boxes?

The study of photons in massless mirrored boxes has practical applications in fields such as optics, quantum computing, and solar energy. It can also help us better understand the behavior of light in extreme environments, such as inside black holes.

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