This is probably more of a science philosophy question, but when we introduce those off-shell particles to explain some three body processes weird behaviour, do we really mean that there are actual massive stuff going on into the Compton length, or is it just a formal and mathematical way to make ours predictions correct? Given that the only real things are those who are measured, is there a difference between the two? I'm confused, because if virtual photons carry the e.m. field from an electrically charged body to another, can we directly measure it? Shouldn't we be able to directly "see" them? Do we? Thank you a lot for your patience
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$\begingroup$ See also: physics.stackexchange.com/questions/230113/… $\endgroup$– RococoCommented Aug 27, 2016 at 1:17
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$\begingroup$ see my answer here physics.stackexchange.com/questions/276075/… and links therein $\endgroup$– anna vCommented Aug 27, 2016 at 5:38
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$\begingroup$ profmattstrassler.com/articles-and-posts/… well worth reading $\endgroup$– user108787Commented Aug 27, 2016 at 8:33
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