Quantum statistics: Is there an effective fermion repulsion or boson attraction?

Authors

WJ MullinFollow
G Blaylock

Publication Date

2003

Journal or Book Title

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS

Abstract

Physicists often claim that there is an effective repulsion between fermions, implied by the Pauli principle, and a corresponding effective attraction between bosons. We examine the origins and validity of such exchange force ideas and the areas where they are highly misleading. We propose that explanations of quantum statistics should avoid the idea of an effective force completely, and replace it with more appropriate physical insights, some of which are suggested here.

Comments

This is the pre-published version which is collected from arXiv. The published version is at http://ajp.aapt.org/resource/1/ajpias/v71/i12/p1223_s1

Pages

1223-1231

Volume

71

Issue

12

Recommended Citation

Mullin, WJ and Blaylock, G, "Quantum statistics: Is there an effective fermion repulsion or boson attraction?" (2003). AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. 39.
Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/physics_faculty_pubs/39