The photon is the sole ultimate primitive entity of the universe, serving as the fundamental substrate underlying all energy and matter in existence. Photons possess two inherent, eternally invariant absolute intrinsic properties: perpetual energy property and intrinsic constant light-speed property. Perpetual energy property: Every photon carries an inherent fixed amount of energy, and the total energy of all photons across the universe remains permanently conserved. The energy rise or fall of photons merely constitutes mutual energy transfer among photon groups; no alteration to the photon’s intrinsic body or internal structure occurs, and the photon itself is eternally unchanged. Intrinsic constant light-speed property: While manifested as a numerical speed from human observational perspectives, light speed is not merely a rate of motion — it is an unalterable fundamental property intrinsic to photons. Photons possess no mass or electric charge, and the three fundamental forces (strong force, electromagnetic force, gravitational force) cannot exert any influence upon the intrinsic body of a photon. Therefore, this intrinsic property remains eternally constant; photons never accelerate, decelerate, rest, or shift velocity. Photons exist in only two absolute states: the free state and the strong force self-locked confined state. In the free state, a photon’s intrinsic body only holds energy and its inherent light-speed property, with electric and magnetic fields merely incidental secondary side effects. When clusters of high-energy gamma photons undergo strong force self-locking and lose their freedom of macroscopic propagation, a full set of compensatory properties emerge collectively: mass, volume, electric charge, as well as the three fundamental forces (strong force, electromagnetic force, gravitational force) that act instantaneously across distances. The ultimate essence of mass-energy conversion is defined by the mass-energy equation: m=E/C². The universe contains no process in which energy spontaneously generates mass or mass spontaneously generates energy. The true nature of mass is confined luminous energy tightly bound and locked by closed-loop strong force self-locking structures. The total luminous energy trapped within a closed loop, divided by the universal conversion constant of the square of light speed, yields the rest mass exhibited outward by particles. Mass is not a primitive substance; confined luminous energy is the sole truth behind mass. When all macroscopic matter in the universe is decomposed layer by layer, only three fundamental closed-loop particles remain: protons, electrons, and neutrons. All three are microscopic closed-loop structures formed via strong force self-locking of high-energy gamma photons. The three instantaneously long-range fundamental forces constitute the primary driving power governing the entire macroscopic universe, with strictly divided core responsibilities: the strong force and electromagnetic force construct, stabilize, and sustain all material structures; gravity drives cosmic motion, galactic evolution, and the decomposition of fragmented matter. Black holes function as giant melting furnaces for the cosmic cycle: Nebulae converge to form stars; massive stars collapse into neutron stars in their late evolutionary stages. Continuous gravitational compression raises temperatures to 2 trillion degrees Celsius, completely melting and disintegrating all neutron self-locking closed loops, reducing all matter into a high-density photon soup and ultimately forming black holes. High-energy photons are ejected outward at extreme speeds through black hole polar jets. These photons undergo strong force self-locking once more to regenerate particles, nebulae, stars, and galaxies, completing the grand infinite cyclic evolution of the universe. This theory unifies the origin of matter, the essence of mass-energy, the source of fundamental forces, the mechanism of black holes, and the principle of ultimate energy. It thoroughly clarifies the absolute boundary between the primitive intrinsic nature of photons and the compensatory superficial phenomena of matter.
Jiaqing Yan (2026) studied this question.