Virtual particles are a concept used in quantum field theory to describe certain interactions between particles. It is important to note that virtual particles are a mathematical tool rather than physical entities that actually "pop" into existence and annihilate each other. They are used in calculations to describe the behavior of quantum fields and the probabilities of particle interactions.
Virtual particles are not directly observable, and they do not have the same properties as real particles. Unlike real particles, virtual particles do not have definite mass or energy. The concept of mass and energy associated with virtual particles arises from the mathematical calculations involving quantum field theory.
When virtual particles are involved in interactions, they follow the principles of quantum mechanics, which include the principle of energy conservation. In these interactions, the total energy before and after the interaction remains the same. However, the energy associated with virtual particles is not subject to the same restrictions as real particles. This is because virtual particles exist only for a very short duration, on the order of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, which allows for temporary violations of energy conservation.
In the case of real particle-antiparticle annihilation, energy is indeed released because real particles have definite mass and energy. However, virtual particles do not have well-defined mass or energy, so there is no actual energy release associated with their virtual interactions. The concept of energy release from virtual particle collisions can be misleading if taken too literally, as it is a mathematical description rather than a physical process.
In summary, while real particle-antiparticle annihilation releases energy due to their definite mass and energy, virtual particles are a mathematical tool used to describe particle interactions and do not possess the same properties as real particles. The concept of energy release in virtual particle interactions is a result of mathematical calculations and not a physical process.