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Photon structure function
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<p>The photon structure function, in <a href="/facts/Quantum_field_theory/VoewsNJV">quantum field theory</a>, describes the <a href="/facts/Quark/hwuuVkV5">quark</a> content of the <a href="/facts/Photon/mFNhAEzA">photon</a>. While the photon is a <a href="/facts/Massless_particle/65Xng6Vx">massless</a> <a href="/facts/Boson/XtPFcjb5">boson</a>, through certain processes <a href="/facts/Photon_energy/Gy4zEAaE">its energy</a> can be converted into the mass of <a href="/facts/Massive_particle/h9KArL5q">massive</a> <a href="/facts/Fermion/LEckdDsR">fermions</a>. The function is defined by the process <i>e</i> + γ → <i>e</i> + hadrons. It is uniquely characterized by the linear increase in the logarithm of the electronic momentum transfer log <i>Q2</i> and by the approximately linear rise in <i>x</i> , the fraction of the quark momenta within the photon. These characteristics are borne out by the experimental analyses of the photon structure function. </p>