On the explanation for quantum statistics

DOI10.1016/J.SHPSB.2005.11.002zbMATH Open1222.82030arXivquant-ph/0511136OpenAlexW2020455516MaRDI QIDQ640262FDOQ640262

Simon Saunders

Publication date: 17 October 2011

Published in: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. Part B. Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: The concept of classical indistinguishability is analyzed and defended against a number of well-known criticisms, with particular attention to the Gibbs' paradox. Granted that it is as much at home in classical as in quantum statistical mechanics, the question arises as to why indistinguishability, in quantum mechanics but not in classical mechanics, forces a change in statistics. The answer, illustrated with simple examples, is that the equilibrium measure on classical phase space is continuous, whilst on Hilbert space it is discrete. The relevance of names, or equivalently, properties stable in time that can be used as names, is also discussed.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0511136

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zbMATH Keywords

quantum statisticsGibbs paradoxclassical indistinguishability

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Quantum equilibrium statistical mechanics (general) (82B10) Foundations of equilibrium statistical mechanics (82B03)

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Cited In (13)

• Maxwell--Boltzmann statistics and the metaphysics of modality
• Dynamical indistinguishability and statistics in quantum fluids
• Gibbs' paradox in the light of Newton's notion of state
• What Price Statistical Independence? How Einstein Missed the Photon
• Statistics of distinguishable particles and resolution of the Gibbs paradox of the first kind
• Max Born's Statistical Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• On the Significance of Permutation Symmetry
• On discernibility in symmetric languages: the case of quantum particles
• The concept `indistinguishable'
• Indistinguishable Classical Particles
• Inherent properties and statistics with individual particles in quantum mechanics
• An information theory approach to nonlinear, nonequilibrium thermodynamics

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