Oxford University Press eBooks

Indistinguishability

Simon W. Saunders

Published Feb 5, 2013• 13 citations

Abstract

This chapter analyzes permutation symmetry, focusing on the proper understanding of pchapter indistinguishability in classical statistical mechanics and in quantum theory. It shows that it is possible to treat the statistical mechanical statistics for classical pchapters as invariant under permutation symmetry and argues that while the concept of indistinguishable, permutation invariant, classical pchapters is coherent, it is in contradiction with many claims found in the literature. The chapter also contends that the concept of permutation symmetry should be considered in the same level as other symmetries and invariances of physical theories.

DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195392043.013.0011

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