By definition, elementary particles can't be broken into smaller pieces. But in a new theoretical study published in Physical Review Letters, Johannes Skaar and colleagues have revealed what would happen if you tried anyway for a single photon. The answer is deeply strange: attempting to cut a photon in two wouldn't produce two smaller photons, but instead conjure an infinite number of them out of thin air.
  • tristynalxander@mander.xyzEnglish
    0·
    6 days ago

    Not a physicist, but after reading I’m pretty sure they said it creates an whole bunch of possible positions, which is distinctly different from creating a whole bunch of new particles.

    • TachyonTele@piefed.socialEnglish
      0·
      5 days ago

      Also not a physicist, probability is far too complex for journelists to be able to explain in a short headline, and often full articles. So we get things like this.