History of Pauli exclusion principle

Difference (from prior major revision) (minor diff, author diff)

Changed: 1c1,15

Principle that no two fermions can occupy the same quantum mechanic state. The Pauli exclusion principle is important for create solids because it prevents two pieces of matter from occupying the same location at the same time.

The quantum mechanical principle, formulated by Pauli, that no two identical fermions may occupy the same quantum state.

Fermions of the same species form totally antisymmetric states. In the two-particle case:

|ψψ′> = - |ψ′ψ>

If both particles occupy the quantum state |ψ>, the state of the
entire system is |ψψ>. Then

|ψψ> = - |ψψ> = |0>

so such a state does not occur. This is readily generalizable to the
case of more than two particles.

The Pauli exclusion principle is the reason you do not fall through the floor.

	Revision 6 . . (edit) December 12, 2001 11:17 am by CYD
	Revision 5 . . (edit) December 12, 2001 3:40 am by (logged).12.93.xxx *[ clean up links]**
	Revision 4 . . (edit) December 11, 2001 2:50 pm by CYD *[ minor correction to math (that's really me below)]**
	Revision 3 . . December 11, 2001 2:44 pm by (logged).12.93.xxx *[ added some math, more work to be done]**
	Revision 2 . . November 20, 2001 1:57 pm by Chenyu
	Revision 1 . . November 20, 2001 1:57 pm by Chenyu