Physicists use a clever mathematical tool called virtual particles to understand how real particles interact with each other. These “virtual” particles are essential for describing three fundamental forces in nature: electromagnetism, the strong and weak nuclear forces.
In reality, virtual particles aren’t visible; they’re just a sophisticated way to calculate forces. They help explain phenomena like the Casimir effect, where two metal plates attract each other in a vacuum, and Hawking radiation, which is predicted by quantum mechanics.
Some physicists wonder if virtual particles are more than just calculations – can they become real? While this idea is still debated, researchers are exploring alternative methods that might make virtual particles unnecessary. The existence of virtual particles highlights the blurred line between mathematical tools and physical reality.
Source: https://www.space.com/science/particle-physics/virtual-particles-how-physicists-clever-bookkeeping-trick-could-underlie-reality