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In the Standard Model, the mass of the photon is zero, while the photon becomes massive if it acts as a mediator between two electrons. Why does this happen? Does it mean that the Standard Model cannot describe the interaction between two electrons?

ACuriousMind
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Archi
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    "while the photon becomes massive if it acts as a mediator between two electrons" [citation needed] – ACuriousMind Apr 03 '15 at 20:45
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    Virtual photons don't have mass. They are off shell. – Jimmy360 Apr 03 '15 at 20:57
  • I'm not an expert, but I'm not sure what your question is. A photon has no rest mass, but it has energy mass, so there's no tangible difference between a photon that acts as a force between charged particles and a photon in what we call light or EM radiation. As far as I know, the standard model describes the interactions between electrons quite well. – userLTK Apr 04 '15 at 00:32
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    The answers by Fredric Brunner and @ACuriousMind to this question might be helpful in clearing a few things up for you. :) – 299792458 Apr 04 '15 at 06:22

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The relativistic mass of the photon is not zero, it is $\frac{h\nu}{c^2}$.

The rest mass of the photon is zero, but according to spec. rel it goes always with $c$.

peterh
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  • The concept of relativistic mass that you are apparently using when you say "the mass of the photon is not zero" is considered obsolete by most. No quantum field theorist (and this question is about the Standard Model, a QFT) would agree to the statement that "the mass of the photon is not zero". – ACuriousMind Apr 03 '15 at 21:04
  • @ACuriousMind I read this, moment – peterh Apr 03 '15 at 21:06