Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The Fermi–Dirac and Bose–Einstein statistics are considered to be key concepts in quantum mechanics, and they are used to explain the occupancy limit of electron orbitals. We investigate the physical origin of these two statistics and uncover that the key determining factor is whether an individual electron spin is measurable or not. Microscopically, a system with individually measurable electron spins corresponds to the presence of Larmor spin precession in electron–electron interactions, while the non-measurability of individual electron spins corresponds to the absence of Larmor spin precession. Both interaction types are possible, and the favored interaction type is thermodynamically determined. The absence of Larmor spin precession is realized in coherent electron states, and coherent electrons therefore obey Bose–Einstein statistics.
Source: Symmetry
DOI: 10.3390/sym16091185
Authors: Andras Kovacs, Giorgio Vassallo
Institution: University of Palermo
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,728
OpenAlex ID: W4402413875