Definition
1. A photon is an elementary particle, the quantum of the electromagnetic field including electromagnetic radiation such as light, and the force carrier for the electromagnetic force (even when static via virtual photons). The photon has zero rest mass and always moves at the speed of light within a vacuum. Like all elementary particles, photons are currently best explained by quantum mechanics and exhibit wave–particle duality, exhibiting properties of both waves and particles.
2. The quantum of light and other electromagnetic energy, regarded as a discrete particle having zero rest mass, no electric charge, and an indefinitely long lifetime.
Abbreviation
γ
Synonyms
Light
Superterms
Photoelectric effect
Subterms
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photon (1.); https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/photon (2.)
Author: Alexander Kravchik
