In the context of classical amplitude modulation (AM), which is a technique used to transmit information through a carrier wave, the modulated wave does not contain individual photons. Instead, it is described in terms of the varying amplitude of the carrier wave.
In classical electromagnetic theory, light is typically described as an electromagnetic wave, which can be thought of as a combination of electric and magnetic fields oscillating in space. Photons, on the other hand, are quanta of electromagnetic radiation that can be associated with light in the context of quantum mechanics.
In the case of AM modulation, the information to be transmitted is imposed on the carrier wave by varying its amplitude in accordance with the modulating signal. This modulation process does not involve the creation or destruction of individual photons, but rather the variation of the carrier wave's intensity.
The resulting modulated wave can be considered as a combination of the carrier wave (at a fixed frequency) and two sidebands that represent the modulation signal. These sidebands are located above and below the carrier frequency and carry the information from the modulating signal. The modulated wave can be demodulated at the receiving end to extract the original modulating signal.
It's worth noting that the concept of photons is more applicable in the quantum domain, where electromagnetic radiation can be quantized. In classical electromagnetic theory, the AM modulation process is typically described without considering individual photons but rather in terms of continuous electromagnetic fields.