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Soviet Physics Uspekhi

The exclusion principle and indistinguishability of identical particles in quantum mechanics

Inna G Kaplan

Published Dec 31, 1975• 17 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The connection between the exclusion principle and the principle of indistinguishability of identical particles in quantum mechanics is discussed. It is shown with the aid of a density matrix defined for states with arbitrary permutation symmetry that the particles are indistinguishable only for one-dimensional representations of the permutation group (symmetrical and antisymmetrycal), and are distinguishable in all the states that are degenerate in the permutations. It is demonstrated by the same token that the exclusion principle follows from the principle of indistinguishability of identical particles and the Pauli theorem on the connection between spin and statistics.

DOI
10.1070/pu1975v018n12abeh005246

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The connection between the exclusion principle and the principle of indistinguishability of identical particles in quantum mechanics is discussed. It is shown with the aid of a density matrix defined for states with arbitrary permutation symmetry that the particles are indistinguishable only for one-dimensional representations of the permutation group (symmetrical and antisymmetrycal), and are distinguishable in all the states that are degenerate in the permutations. It is demonstrated by the same token that the exclusion principle follows from the principle of indistinguishability of identical particles and the Pauli theorem on the connection between spin and statistics.
In this article, we discuss the identity and indistinguishability of quantum systems and the consequent need to introduce an extra postulate in Quantum Mechanics to correctly describe situations involving indistinguishable particles. This is, for electrons, the Pauli Exclusion Principle, or in general, the Symmetrization Postulate. Then, we introduce fermions and bosons and the distributions respectively describing their statistical behaviour in indistinguishable situations. Following that, we discuss the spin-statistics connection, as well as alternative statistics and experimental evidence for all these results, including the use of bunching and antibunching of particles emerging from a beam splitter as a signature for some bosonic or fermionic states.
In this article, we discuss the identity and indistinguishability of quantum systems and the consequent need to introduce an extra postulate in Quantum Mechanics to correctly describe situations involving indistinguishable particles. This is, for electrons, the Pauli Exclusion Principle, or in general, the Symmetrization Postulate. Then, we introduce fermions and bosons and the distributions respectively describing their statistical behaviour in indistinguishable situations. Following that, we discuss the spin-statistics connection, as well as alternative statistics and experimental evidence for all these results, including the use of bunching and antibunching of particles emerging from a beam splitter as a signature for some bosonic or fermionic states.
This chapter addresses the quantum mechanics of identical particles, emphasizing the role of wavefunction symmetry in determining statistical behavior. Symmetric and antisymmetric wavefunctions are defined, and the implications of particle indistinguishability are examined, particularly regarding how it influences measurable outcomes and the concept of energy exchange degeneracy. The distinguishability of identical particles is discussed and shown to affect specific calculations. For systems where particle interactions can be neglected in the zero-order approximation, the total energy eigenfunction is expressed as a product of single-particle eigenfunctions. The Pauli exclusion principle is derived as a consequence of antisymmetrization. The relationship between symmetry type (bosonic or fermionic) and quantum statistics is elaborated. As an illustration, the ground state and the first excited sss-state of the helium atom are analyzed under a simplified approximation. Metadata/Keywords: identical particles, symmetric wavefunction, antisymmetric wavefunction, Pauli exclusion principle, quantum statistics, energy exchange degeneracy, indistinguishability, helium atom, symmetry and statistics
The treatment of identical particles in quantum mechanics rests on two (related) principles: the spin‐statistics connection and the Symmetrization Postulate. In light of recent theories (such as q‐deformed commutators) that allow for ‘small’ violations of the spin‐statistics connection and the Symmetrization Postulate, we revisit the issue of how quantum mechanics deals with identical particles and how it supports or fails to support various philosophical stances concerning individuality. As a consequence of the expanded possibilities for quantum statistics, we argue that permutation symmetry is best formulated as a formal property of the state function describing the system of particles rather than as a property of the individual particles.1 Introduction2 Philosophical background2.1 Important terminology2.1.1 Identity2.1.2 Indistinguishability2.1.3 Indiscernibility2.2 When are particles indistinguishable?2.3 The Principle of the Identity of Indiscernibles and quantum mechanics2.4 The Principle of the Identity of Indiscernibles and logic2.5 Particle history2.6 Transcendental individuality3 Some quantum formalism3.1 The Principle of Permutation Invariance and the Symmetrization Postulate3.2 The configuration‐space approach3.3 Commutators and anticommutators, and identical particle statistics3.4 Q‐mutators4 Identical particle statistics: a holistic point of view5 Conclusions
Abstract The empirical rule that systems of identical particles always obey either Bose or Fermi statistics is customarily imposed on the theory by adding it to the axioms of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, with the result that other statistical behaviors are excluded a priori. A more general approach is to ask what other many-particle statistics are consistent with the indistinguishability of identical particles. This strategy offers a way to discuss possible violations of the Pauli Exclusion Principle, and it leads to some interesting issues related to preparation of states and a superselection rule arising from invariance under the permutation group.
Abstract Foundation of the Pauli exclusive principle is discussed. It is demonstrated that the indistinguishability principle is insensitive to the permutation symmetry of the wave function and cannot be used as a criterion for the verification of the Pauli exclusive principle. The heuristic arguments are given in favor that the existence in nature of only the nondegenerate permutation representations (symmetrical and antisymmetrical) is not occasional. As follows from our analysis of possible scenarios, the permission of degenerate permutation representations leads to contradictions with the concept of particle identity and their independence. Thus, the prohibition of degenerate permutation states by the Pauli exclusive principle follows from the general physical assumptions inside quantum theory, but the problem of spin–statistics connection is still open. It is pointed out that the Pauli exclusive principle and the Jahn–Teller effect have some similar features. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002