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Preferred term

virtual particle  

Definition

  • A virtual particle is a particle that appears momentarily out of the quantum vacuum and exists only as permitted by the uncertainty principle. Virtual particles effectively borrow energy but rapidly annihilate, thereby repaying the energy loan. They cannot be detected directly but can have measurable effects. Virtual photons, for example, are exchanged between charged particles when they interact electromagnetically. (Encyclopedia of Science, by David Darling, https://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/V/virtual_particle.html)

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URI

http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/MDL-L9LK43F3-C

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