Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
photon
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
Learn about a virtual slow-motion camera that can capture photons or light particles moving through space which may be useful in medical imaging, in industrial or scientific use or even in consumer photography
Compton effect
Discover how a laser beam emits light
Benefits and dangers of pine resin to ants
The science behind the color black
Understand the concept of teleportation and how quantum mechanics makes photon teleportation possible
Related Questions
Read Next
Aerial view of Tokyo, Japan at dusk circa 2009. Tokyo Tower (right) located in Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Office buildings, architecture, skyscrapers, skyline.
Is Light Pollution Really Pollution?
Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)
All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained
Albert Einstein.
Celebrating the Birth of a Genius
Albert Einstein smoking pipe
The Bizarre Posthumous Journey of Einstein's Brain
Albert Einstein
How Albert Einstein Developed the Theory of General Relativity
Discover
Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart rehearsing his 12th Mass with singer and musician. (Austrian composer. (Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
7 Famous Child Prodigies
United States electoral college map showing number of electoral votes by state.
How Does the Electoral College Work?
The Colosseum, Rome, Italy. Giant amphitheatre built in Rome under the Flavian emperors. (ancient architecture; architectural ruins)
New Seven Wonders of the World
American bison (Bison bison) also known as buffalo or plains buffalo on the prairie, western U.S.
What’s the Difference Between Bison and Buffalo?
Close-up of tobacco plants in Ontario, Canada. Tobacco, Nicotiana, cured leaves used after processing in various ways for smoking, snuffing, chewing, and extracting of nicotine.
7 of the World’s Deadliest Plants
Ahura Mazda - relief of the Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda at the ancient ruins of Persepolis in Iran. Also known as Ormazd Zoroastrianism,
Which Religion Is the Oldest?

photon: Facts & Related Content

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/facts/photon
Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As light quantum

Photos and Videos

Compton effect
Learn about a virtual slow-motion camera that can capture photons or light particles moving through space which may be useful in medical imaging, in industrial or scientific use or even in consumer photography
Discover how a laser beam emits light
Benefits and dangers of pine resin to ants
The science behind the color black
Understand the concept of teleportation and how quantum mechanics makes photon teleportation possible
See All Videos and Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics

Key People

Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
German-American physicist
Arthur Holly Compton
Arthur Holly Compton
American physicist
Serge Haroche.
Serge Haroche
French physicist
Glauber, Roy J.
Roy J. Glauber
American physicist
Sir Geoffrey Ingram Taylor
British physicist