On the explanation for quantum statistics

DOI10.1016/J.SHPSB.2005.11.002MaRDI QIDQ640262zbMATHOpenAlexFDO

Authors 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)

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

zbMATH Keywords

quantum statisticsGibbs paradoxclassical indistinguishability

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

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

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.

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Cited in

(21)

• On the Significance of Permutation Symmetry
• How classical particles emerge from the quantum world
• Quantum statistics of identical particles
• Quantum coins, dice, and children: probability and quantum statistics
• Multiplicity and indiscernibility
• Numeration as a factor relating the quantum and classical mechanics of ideal gases
• The logic of identity: distinguishability and indistinguishability in classical and quantum physics
• What Price Statistical Independence? How Einstein Missed the Photon
• Indistinguishable Classical Particles
• Dynamical indistinguishability and statistics in quantum fluids
• On discernibility in symmetric languages: the case of quantum particles
• An information theory approach to nonlinear, nonequilibrium thermodynamics
• Statistics of distinguishable particles and resolution of the Gibbs paradox of the first kind
• The concept `indistinguishable'
• Gibbs' paradox in the light of Newton's notion of state
• Dynamical quantum indistinguishability
• Maxwell--Boltzmann statistics and the metaphysics of modality
• A note on the prehistory of indistinguishable particles
• Inherent properties and statistics with individual particles in quantum mechanics
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 6538291 (Why is no real title available?)
• Max Born's Statistical Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

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