On the Intrinsic Mass of Photons
Sven Gelbhaar
9 October 2008
For too long now have we lived under the false belief that photons have no
mass. For a bit of a refresher on this topic, I encourage the reader to
peruse my paper Revised Theory of Relativity. Special Relativity tells us
that photons are a special case, that is a unique case of a particle which
acts like it has mass, yet somehow doesn’t.
Let’s delve into the details a bit. We know from experimental observation
that photons are subject to conservation of momentum. That is, when they
collide with (other) bodies of mass that they exert a pressure on this mass
and contribute to that body’s inertia. This is covered by the principle of
Radiation Pressure (1), which is the principle utilized by solar sails. If
something has no mass then why would it act like it does?
We also know from experimental observation that photons are subject to a
phenomena that we erroneously dubbed Gravitational Lensing (2), wherein
photons veer in their trajectory (their direction of travel) when they come
close to bodies of mass (especially notable around bodies of mass that have
a substantial gravitational influence), just like mass. We already have a
sound theory that covers this sort of thing, called Gravity. If something
has no mass then why would it act like it does?
We also know from experimental observation that the speed of light is not
constant. We have both slowed it down in laboratory settings (3), and sped
it up (4). It is subject to changes in velocity, just as if it has mass.
If something has no mass then why would it act like it does?We have also
already seen past the misinterpretations of the Double Slit Experiment, as
I’ve gone over in my paper entitled From Wave Theory to Quantum Mechanics.
Photons interacting with each other and being reflected from the edges of
the slits in the intermediate medium only appear to be acting as waves, but
this is simply a misinterpretation error on our behalf. Therefore no
viable argument exists that would make us deem photons the exception to the
rule.
If the theory that postulates that photons are an exception to the rule
brings about more paradoxes and singularities (situations in which the
theory no longer makes sense) such as the Twin Paradox and Black Holes, and
another perfectly viable theory (that photons do in fact have mass) exists,
then why should we burden ourselves with this? Does not Occam’s Razor
apply?
I leave it to the reader to find fault with what I consider to be the
default assumption that photons have mass, and leave you with one last
adage: If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck,
it’s a duck.
References
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_pressure
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_lensing
3.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/18/AR200701180
1683.html - http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/07/20/speed.of.light.ap/