Is the magnetic field propagated by photons or by virtual photons? If it is by photons, then doesn't that mean that magnets lose energy and eventually become non magnets?
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$\begingroup$ This might interest you, levitationfun.com/mfield.html It has references but no links. In a nutshell, virtual photons create the magnetic field observed from a permanent magnet, the diagram ending back to the magnet. $\endgroup$– anna vCommented Mar 8, 2012 at 5:59
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$\begingroup$ More on virtual photons and magnets: physics.stackexchange.com/q/3580/2451 and physics.stackexchange.com/q/14980/2451 $\endgroup$– Qmechanic ♦Commented Mar 8, 2012 at 6:06
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2 Answers
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You are right, real photons always travel at the speed of light and would carry energy away from a magnet.
From a field theory point of view, all static fields, whether electric, magnetic, the weak nuclear force or the strong nuclear force can be thought of as being mediated by virtual particles. So for either electric or magnetic fields, that would be virtual photons that mediate the field. See Wikipedia for more information. Another great article explaining virtual particles is from John Baez and finally see this question and answer: What's the relation between virtual photons and electromagnetic potentials? .
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A quick clarification on the second part of your question: Virtual force particles differ from real ones in that they don't dissipate any energy. It's part of that "virtual" thing!
answered Mar 8, 2012 at 12:48