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virtual pair comparison table

Subject	has definition	is a kind of
virtual particle	Quantum uncertainties in energy make it possible for virtual particles to be constantly created and annihilated during elementary particle interactions. Elementary particles are able to make use of these virtual particles within their interactions.	particle
virtual pair	Particle and antiparticle that exist for an extremely short time, often as the intermediate stage of a nuclear transition. According to Dirac's theory, the vacuum can be visualized as consisting of a sea of virtual electron-positron pairs that can only be released or separated when sufficient energy is made available.	virtual particle

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