The hadronic properties of the photon in high-energy interactions

High-energy photon interactions are discussed in terms of the hadronic structure of the photon, which is expressed by means of a formulation which is akin to, but somewhat more general than, vector-meson-dominance or specific generalized vector-dominance models. Experiments which demonstrate and yield information about this hadronic structure are discussed critically, and the resulting information is carefully evaluated. Special attention is paid to diffractive processes such as the photoproduction of vector mesons and to photon shadowing effects on nuclei. Relationships to other views of photon interactions, such as the parton model and the space-time description, are also discussed; these views are seen to complement the hadronic structure picture rather than to be in conflict. The general overview is that there is ample evidence which shows that the photon's hadronic structure plays a significant role in its interactions. What further work would most significantly enhance the understanding of the hadronic structure of the photon is also pointed out.