I would not go so far as to say virtual states are "fictional" if that
means they do not exist. They exist in the sense that, though not
directly observable themselves, they have or lead to observable
effects, (I do not intend to get into a discussion of whether
theoretical objects really exist.), e.g., vacuum polarization and
black hole radiation. Isolated quarks are not observable even in
principle, yet the existence of quarks is confirmed by many
observations of effects attributable to quarks.
Glenn A. Carlson, P.E.
St. Charles County Community College
St. Peters, MO
gcarlson@mail.win.org
Subject: Re: virtual particles preferred frame?
Date: Sun, 7 Nov 1999 18:08:54 -0600
From: "JACK L. URETSKY (C)1998; HEP DIVISION, ARGONNE
NATIONAL LAB ARGONNE, IL 60439" <JLU@HEP.ANL.GOV>
So the answer is that "virtual states" are fictional, but the
fiction
has created its own reality.