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As a particle and its antiparticle annihilate each other a huge amount of energy is released, and no mass is left. This energy always comes in the form of force mediating particles (photons, gluons). Can´t we say that this is the definition of pure energy because all the mass has disappeared? If a photon has energy, then according to the definition it is its ability to do work. But what´s the difference between the ability of a photon to to work and the ability to do work for a particle with electric charge? A photon doesn´t do work as an electron does in an electric field. The photon can´t move against a force, as the photon itself is a particle that makes up a force field. The electron cán move aginst a force thereby acquiring potential energy. The photon just disappears because in can be absorbed by the particles that produce the field.

Maybe I just want to say that a photon (or a gluon) ís energy while particles of matter possess energy.

Deschele Schilder
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The photons released are individually massless, but all of them together have an effective mass equal to the original masses of the particle and antiparticle; see my answer here. This isn't some mathematical abstraction either -- you can put the photons in a reflective box and weigh it, and it'll have extra weight.

It's safe to say that the phrase "annihilate into pure energy" is not true in any way.

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knzhou
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