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AIP conference proceedings

Collisions, indiscernability and the spin-statistics theorem

Michel Gondran, Alexandre Gondran

Published Jan 1, 2012• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We recently proposed a definition of indiscernability in classical mechanics for identical particles prepared in the same manner and without interaction between them [1]. In this paper, we generalize the indiscernability to identical particles in collision. We first consider the elastic collision of pairs of classical particles. We then study the convergence of the quantum indiscernability to the classical indiscernability when the Planck constant h tends to 0. Finally, based on a plausible behavior of the particle during the collision, we propose a possible interpretation of the entanglement phenomenon and of the spin-statistics theorem.

DOI
10.1063/1.4773151

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We recently proposed a definition of indiscernability in classical mechanics for identical particles prepared in the same manner and without interaction between them [1]. In this paper, we generalize the indiscernability to identical particles in collision. We first consider the elastic collision of pairs of classical particles. We then study the convergence of the quantum indiscernability to the classical indiscernability when the Planck constant h tends to 0. Finally, based on a plausible behavior of the particle during the collision, we propose a possible interpretation of the entanglement phenomenon and of the spin-statistics theorem.
We introduce into classical mechanics the concept of nondiscerned particles for particles that are identical, non-interacting and prepared in the same way. The non-discerned particles correspond to an action and a density which satisfy the statistical Hamilton-Jacobi equations and allow to explain the Gibbs paradox. On the other hand, a discerned particle corresponds to a particular action that satisfies the special Hamilton-Jacobi equations. We then study the convergence of quantum mechanics to classical mechanics when ~ tends to 0 by considering two cases : the convergence to non-discerned classical particles and the convergence to a classical discerned particle. Based on these convergences, we propose an updated interpretation of quantum mechanics.
In classical physics, the question whether there are subsets of identical particles is not particularly interesting. After all, whether the particles are identical or not, we can always track each of them at any time. As we shall see, in quantum mechanics identical particles are indistinguishable because we cannot track trajectories, and this fact induces some important symmetry properties on the total wave function describing the system of particles under consideration. Generally speaking, a symmetry is an effect of an invariance, that is, the system does not change if one effects certain transformations (see Ch. 8). In this case, the system is not modified under exchange of two identical particles. Moreover, such a symmetry yields a most interesting connection between spin and statistics. After a short introduction to the significance of statistics in quantum mechanics (in Sec. 7.1), we define the permutation operator and discuss the symmetry properties of the wave function of N identical particles (Sec. 7.2). In Sec. 7.3 we show that quantum particles, differently from classical particles (that obey the Maxwell–Boltzmann statistics), may be subject to two different statistics, namely the Fermi–Dirac statistics for fermions and the Bose–Einstein statistics for bosons. In Sec. 7.4 we treat the so-called exchange interaction and, finally, in Sec. 7.5 we consider some applications of the two statistics. Statistics and quantum mechanics Identical particles are those particles whose Hamiltonian is symmetric under exchange of one particle with the other.
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
We introduce into classical mechanics the concept of non-discerned particles for particles that are identical, non-interacting and prepared in the same way. The non-discerned particles correspond to an action and a density which satisfy the statistical Hamilton-Jacobi equations and allow to explain the Gibbs paradox in a simple manner. On the other hand, a discerned particle corresponds to a particular action that satisfies the local Hamilton-Jacobi equations. We then study the convergence of quantum mechanics to classical mechanics when hbar -> 0 by considering the convergence for the two cases. These results provide an argument for a renewed interpretation of quantum mechanics.
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.