Abstract It is shown that the exclusion principle merely requires the electrons to be divided into two distinct groups, then, according to our assumption of the distinguishability of electrons, its mathematical representation can be the spatial double antisymmetrization or the spatial‐spin antisymmetrization; in the latter case an auxiliary spin double symmetrization is also required in order to distinguish the two types of electrons. The second requirement is used to recognize the fact that, although all electrons can be assumed to be indistinguishable under certain condition, their natural characteristic of two distinct groups must still be preserved.It is further shown that the double antisymmetrization (or double symmetrization) determines the spin quantum number M, whereas the Löwdin spin projector for nonorthogonal eigenfunctions and the Wigner matric basis for orthogonal eigenfunctions will decide the spin quantum number S, Both the spatial double antisymmetrizer and the spin double symmetrizer will reject all the unnecessary eigenfunctions and project out only one unique set of linearly independent eigenfunctions.
Abstract It is shown that the exclusion principle merely requires the electrons to be divided into two distinct groups, then, according to our assumption of the distinguishability of electrons, its mathematical representation can be the spatial double antisymmetrization or the spatial‐spin antisymmetrization; in the latter case an auxiliary spin double symmetrization is also required in order to distinguish the two types of electrons. The second requirement is used to recognize the fact that, although all electrons can be assumed to be indistinguishable under certain condition, their natural characteristic of two distinct groups must still be preserved.It is further shown that the double antisymmetrization (or double symmetrization) determines the spin quantum number M, whereas the Löwdin spin projector for nonorthogonal eigenfunctions and the Wigner matric basis for orthogonal eigenfunctions will decide the spin quantum number S, Both the spatial double antisymmetrizer and the spin double symmetrizer will reject all the unnecessary eigenfunctions and project out only one unique set of linearly independent eigenfunctions.
Abstract Section I.—The exclusion principle of Pauli was introduced into the old quantum theory as an empirical fact that had been brought to light in the ordering of spectra. The new mechanics has provided some sort of explanation of the principle, for in a closed system with many electrons the mathematically possible stationary states can be separated into a number of groups, with the property that transitions between stationary states in different groups cannot occur. One of these group is made up of the stationary states corresponding occur. One of the these groups is made up of the stationary states corresponding to wave functions that are antisymmetrical in the co-ordinates of the electrons. Apart from accidental degeneracies, the stationary states in different groups have different energy values. The exclusion principle then states that only energy values belonging to the antisymmertical group are found in nature. The exclusion principle has had great success not only in explaining the spectra of helium and of more complicated atoms, but also, under the form of the Fermi-Dirac statistics, in accounting for metallic conduction and ferromagnetism. In all these phenomena we are dealing with systems is stationary states, possessing energy values which are discrete, although they may lie very close together. Now, as was first emphasised by Oppenheimer, we must also use antisymmetrical wave-functions to describe aperiodic phenomena, such as the collision between an electron and an atom. If we do not, we obtain probabilities for the formation of atoms whose wave-funtions are not antisymmetrical, as we shall show in section 4, where we consider the collision between an electron and a helium atom. A helium atom described by a symmetrical wave-function would show a singlet series in palce of the observed triplets and triplet series in place of the observed singlets. The wave-functions of open systems are essentially degenerate; the symmetical and antisymmetrical solution are not separated from one another by a finite energy difference; but for any arbitrary value of the energy (and of the other integrals of the motion) we can form a symmetrical and an antisymmetrical solution. This is somewhat fundamental difference between open and closed systems. For closed systems containing two electrons there exist only the symmetrical and the antisymmetical solution; but for open systems we might take any combination of the two. In fact, to describe an observable phenomenon such as a collision, the wave-function that it would first occur to us to use is a combination of the two. To fix our ideas we shall discuss the collision between two electrons. Our arguments could equally well be applied to the collision between an electron and a hydrogen atom, the problem originally discussed by Born; but the former is the simpler case, and perhaps illustrates our theory better.
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 s-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
In classical physics it was assumed that a system of two bodies, both having the same mechanical and electrical properties, would show the same behavior regardless of their complete identity. This assumption, that gave rise to the paradoxes of Gibbs and of Einstein which are here discussed, must be abandoned in atomic physics. We must distinguish sharply between identical particles and those that are only quasiidentical, in the sense that they are the same in mass, charge and the potential fields to which they give rise. All of the results which have hitherto been obtained in quantum mechanics are valid even if we assume that two particles such as two electrons or two helium nuclei are only quasi-identical. The postulate of complete identity is a new mathematical condition which, operating simultaneously with the wave equation and its boundary conditions, restricts the number of possible solutions of the equation and thus gives rise mathematically to a number of exclusion laws such as those which have been empirically obtained.The assumption of identity is equivalent to the mathematical assumption that the ordinary configuration space is degenerate, in the sense that one portion is a mere reflection of another. By this method it is shown that if the wave function is a scalar, the laws of exclusion are obtained without ambiguity. Thus a perfectly symmetrical diatomic gas in its simplest electronic state can have only even rotational levels. It is pointed out that the experimental results with O2(O16O16) and He2 show that these atoms exist in a single nuclear state. It is predicted that with heavier atoms both even and odd states will be found owing to the existence of isobars. The monatomic gas is then discussed and it is shown that, if the Schr\"odinger function is a scalar, only the Bose-Einstein statistics are possible.The phenomenon of spin introduces a vector character into the wave function. If we assume that the spin factor changes sign upon reflection when the number of units of spin is odd but not when the number of units of spin is even, we have all the cases of exclusion now known, including the case of the nitrogen molecule. As an example of the method, the problem of the helium atom is discussed.
In this paper we analyze a recently proposed approach for the construction of antisymmetric functions for atomic and molecular systems. It is based on the assumption that the main problems with Hartree-Fock wavefunctions stem from their lack of proper permutation symmetry. This alternative building approach is based on products of a space times a spin function with opposite permutation symmetry. The main argument for devising such factors is that the eigenfunctions of the non-relativistic Hamiltonian are either symmetric or antisymmetric with respect to the transposition of the variables of a pair of electrons. However, since the eigenfunctions of the non-relativistic Hamiltonian are basis for the irreducible representations of the symmetric group they are not necessarily symmetric or antisymmetric, except in the trivial case of two electrons. We carry out a simple and straightforward general analysis of the symmetry of the eigenfunctions of the non-relativistic Hamiltonian and illustrate our conclusions by means of two exactly-solvable models of N=2 and N=3 identical interacting particles.
The modern state of the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) is discussed. PEP can be considered from two viewpoints. On the one hand, it asserts that particles with half-integer spin (fermions) are described by antisymmetric wave functions, and particles with integer spin (bosons) are described by symmetric wave functions. This is the so-called spin-statistics connection (SSC). As we will discuss, the physical reasons why SSC exists are still unknown. On the other hand, according to PEP, the permutation symmetry of the total wave functions can be only of two types: symmetric or antisymmetric, both belong to one-dimensional representations of the permutation group, all other types of permutation symmetry are forbidden; whereas the solution of the Schrödinger equation may have any permutation symmetry. It is demonstrated that the proof in some widespread textbooks on quantum mechanics that only symmetric and antisymmetric states (one-dimensional representations of the permutation group) can exist is wrong. However, the scenarios, in which an arbitrary permutation symmetry (degenerate permutation states) is permitted lead to contradictions with the concepts of particle identity and their independence. Thus, the existence in our nature particles only in nondegenerate permutation states (symmetric and antisymmetric) is not accidental and so-called symmetrization postulate may not be considered as a postulate, since all other symmetry options for the total wave function may not be realized. From this an important conclusion follows: we may not expect that in future some unknown elementary particles can be discovered that are not fermions or bosons.
The Pauli exclusion principle (PEP) can be considered from two aspects. First, it asserts that particles that have half-integer spin (fermions) are described by antisymmetric wave functions, and particles that have integer spin (bosons) are described by symmetric wave functions. It is called spin-statistics connection (SSC). The physical reasons why SSC exists are still unknown. On the other hand, PEP is not reduced to SSC and can be consider from another aspect, according to it, the permutation symmetry of the total wave function can be only of two types: symmetric or antisymmetric. They both belong to one-dimensional representations of the permutation group, while other types of permutation symmetry are forbidden. However, the solution of the Schrödinger equation may have any permutation symmetry. We analyze this second aspect of PEP and demonstrate that proofs of PEP in some wide-spread textbooks on quantum mechanics, basing on the indistinguishability principle, are incorrect. The indistinguishability principle is insensitive to the permutation symmetry of wave function. So, it cannot be used as a criterion for the PEP verification. However, as follows from our analysis of possible scenarios, the permission of states with permutation symmetry more general than symmetric and antisymmetric leads to contradictions with the concepts of particle identity and their independence. Thus, the existence in our Nature particles only in symmetric and antisymmetric permutation states is not accidental, since all symmetry options for the total wave function, except the antisymmetric and symmetric, cannot be realized. From this an important conclusion follows, we may not expect that in future some unknown elementary particles that are not fermions or bosons can be discovered.