Comment by UncleSlacky

The electron-as-trapped photon model goes back a ways, to at least Roger Jennison (one of my old profs):

"What is an electron?": http://gsjournal.net/Science-Journals/Journal%20Reprints-Qua...

More recently, Larry Reed has developed a theory very similar to that mentioned in the article:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364333320_Quantum_W...

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390318893_Origin_of...