Refraction & Special Relativity: Can Photons Convert to Mass?

[haloshade]

Hello, new comer to realitivity here.

My friend and I were wondering if when light refracts if the photons temporarly convert back into partial mass.

Through my understanding of e=(mc^2)/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) it appears as if they would, but since photons have an infinite amount of energy backing them up, then is it even possible for them to even reach a stage of having mass?

edit: sorry for my bad grammar, english has never been my strong point.

 

[JesseM]

Hello, new comer to realitivity here.

My friend and I were wondering if when light refracts if the photons temporarly convert back into partial mass.

A photon can never have mass, but it is possible for a photon to convert into other particles which do have rest mass. I don't know exactly what happens when light refracts, but see post #4 here for a good discussion of why light slows down in a medium like water, basically involving the photons being repeatedly absorbed and re-emitted.

Through my understanding of e=(mc^2)/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) it appears as if they would, but since photons have an infinite amount of energy backing them up

No, photons only have a finite amount of energy--keep in mind that the "m" in that equation is the rest mass, which would be zero for a photon, so the equation just gives the undefined answer 0/0. To find the energy of a photon you have to use the quantum equation E=hf, where f is the photon's frequency and h is Planck's constant.

 

[Entropia]

Hello there! Welcome to the world of relativity. Your question is a very interesting one and it has been a topic of discussion among physicists for a long time. Let's dive into it.

Firstly, let's clarify what refraction is. Refraction is the bending of light as it passes through a different medium, such as from air to water. This bending is caused by the change in the speed of light in the different medium. So, the photons themselves are not converting into mass, but rather their path is being altered.

Now, to answer your question about whether photons can temporarily convert into mass, the short answer is no. According to Einstein's theory of special relativity, mass and energy are two forms of the same thing. This means that energy can be converted into mass and vice versa. However, photons are massless particles and they always travel at the speed of light, which is the maximum speed allowed in the universe. This means that they cannot have any mass, even temporarily.

As you mentioned, the equation E=mc^2 shows the relationship between energy and mass. However, this equation only applies to particles that are at rest or moving at speeds much slower than the speed of light. Photons, on the other hand, are always moving at the speed of light and therefore the equation does not apply to them.

So, in conclusion, photons cannot convert into mass, even temporarily, because they are always traveling at the speed of light and have no mass to begin with. However, they can interact with matter and their energy can be transferred to particles with mass, causing them to move or vibrate.

I hope this answers your question. Keep exploring the fascinating world of relativity!