Virtual Particles

Virtual particles are transient entities that appear briefly during particle interactions, acting as carriers of force between particles. They are not directly observable but are a mathematical tool in quantum field theory to describe forces like electromagnetism or the strong nuclear force. Unlike real particles, which can be detected and measured, virtual particles exist only fleetingly within the limits allowed by the uncertainty principle, facilitating interactions without violating conservation laws over measurable timescales. They are essential for understanding how particles influence one another at the quantum level, even though they lack the independence of real particles.