"In essence... [virtual particles] carry a large fluctuation of energy, so long as they exist for only a brief period of time"

Although the above explanation may have sounded vague, the general idea behind Virtual Particles is that they are only able to exist for a few moments before ceasing to exist. In essence, they could also be described as a binding of Quarks through strong nuclear forces. In addition to that, they are represented through diagrams known as Feynman Diagrams. These diagrams are structured in such a way that they can represent different types of particles. For example, this diagram can be used to describe "real" particles such as Photons in additon to Virtual Particles.

What are Virtual Particles?

By Andrew Zimmerman Jones, Daniel RobbinsQuantum electrodynamics was one of the first quantum approaches to a quantum field theory, so it introduced many features possessed by string theory (which is also a quantum field theory). In quantum electrodynamics, virtual particles can exist briefly, arising from the energy fluctuations of the quantum fields that exist at every point in space. Some virtual particles — such as the photon in the figure — exist just long enough to communicate information about a force. Other virtual particles spring into existence, seemingly for no purpose other than to make the lives of physicists more interesting.<img src="https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/314429.image0.jpg" width="535" height="367" alt="image0.jpg">The existence of virtual particles is one of the strangest aspects of physics, but it’s a direct consequence of quantum physics. Virtual particles can exist because the uncertainty principle, in essence, allows them to carry a large fluctuation of energy, so long as they exist for only a brief period of time.The right side of this figure shows a pair of virtual particles — this time an electron and a positron. In some cases, a photon can actually split into an electron and positron and then recombine back into a photon.<img src="https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/314430.image1.jpg" width="535" height="367" alt="image1.jpg">The problem is that even though these particles are virtual, their effects have to be taken into account when performing calculations about what takes place in a given area. So no matter what you’re doing, an infinite number of strange virtual particles are springing into and out of existence all around you, wreaking havoc with the smooth orderly calculations that you’d like to perform! <img src="https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/themes/dummies/img/share-icon.png" width="80" height="32"><h4>About the Book Author</h4>Andrew Zimmerman Jones received his physics degree and graduated with honors from Wabash College, where he earned the Harold Q. Fuller Prize in Physics. He is the Physics Guide for the New York Times' About.com Web site. Daniel Robbins received his PhD in physics from the University of Chicago and currently studies string theory and its implications at Texas A&amp;M University. <h2>Related Book</h2><img src="https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/0470595841.jpg" alt="" width="120" height="151"><div>String Theory For Dummies</div><img src="https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/themes/dummies/img/amazon-btn.png" width="160" height="47">

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

By Andrew Zimmerman Jones, Daniel Robbins

Quantum electrodynamics was one of the first quantum approaches to a quantum field theory, so it introduced many features possessed by string theory (which is also a quantum field theory). In quantum electrodynamics, virtual particles can exist briefly, arising from the energy fluctuations of the quantum fields that exist at every point in space.

Some virtual particles — such as the photon in the figure — exist just long enough to communicate information about a force. Other virtual particles spring into existence, seemingly for no purpose other than to make the lives of physicists more interesting.

The existence of virtual particles is one of the strangest aspects of physics, but it’s a direct consequence of quantum physics. Virtual particles can exist because the uncertainty principle, in essence, allows them to carry a large fluctuation of energy, so long as they exist for only a brief period of time.

The right side of this figure shows a pair of virtual particles — this time an electron and a positron. In some cases, a photon can actually split into an electron and positron and then recombine back into a photon.

The problem is that even though these particles are virtual, their effects have to be taken into account when performing calculations about what takes place in a given area. So no matter what you’re doing, an infinite number of strange virtual particles are springing into and out of existence all around you, wreaking havoc with the smooth orderly calculations that you’d like to perform!

Andrew Zimmerman Jones received his physics degree and graduated with honors from Wabash College, where he earned the Harold Q. Fuller Prize in Physics. He is the Physics Guide for the New York Times' About.com Web site. Daniel Robbins received his PhD in physics from the University of Chicago and currently studies string theory and its implications at Texas A&amp;M University.

String Theory: Virtual Particles - dummies

ANDREW ZIMMERMAN JONES

What are Virtual Particles?

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