Quantum Statistics
The fundamental feature of quantum mechanics that distinguishes it from classical mechanics is that particles of a particular type are indistinguishable from one another. This means that in an assembly consisting of similar particles, interchanging any two particles does not lead to a new configuration of the system (in the language of quantum mechanics: the wave function of the system is invariant with respect to the interchange of the constituent particles). In case of a system consisting of particles belonging to different nature (for example electrons and protons), the wave function of the system is invariant separately for the assembly of the two particles.
While this difference between classical and quantum description of systems is fundamental to all of quantum statistics, it is further divided into the following two classes on the basis of symmetry of the system.
Read more about this topic: Particle Statistics
Famous quotes containing the words quantum and/or statistics:
“A personality is an indefinite quantum of traits which is subject to constant flux, change, and growth from the birth of the individual in the world to his death. A character, on the other hand, is a fixed and definite quantum of traits which, though it may be interpreted with slight differences from age to age and actor to actor, is nevertheless in its essentials forever fixed.”
—Hubert C. Heffner (1901–1985)
“We already have the statistics for the future: the growth percentages of pollution, overpopulation, desertification. The future is already in place.”
—Günther Grass (b. 1927)