Exchange symmetry of identical particles
Boson and fermion states respond differently to exchange.
Key knowledge
Ordinary bosonic wave functions are symmetric and fermionic wave functions antisymmetric under simultaneous exchange of the complete coordinates and spin labels of two identical particles.
Values and equations
Ψ(2,1,…) = +Ψ(1,2,…) for bosons; Ψ(2,1,…) = −Ψ(1,2,…) for fermions
- Ψ
- Multiparticle state amplitude in a chosen representation
- 1, 2
- Complete one-particle coordinate and spin labels
Conditions and scope
- Use the ordinary boson/fermion description in three spatial dimensions.
- Spatial symmetry alone depends on the spin state; two-dimensional anyonic statistics are outside this entry.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Section 4–1, equations 4.1–4.2 and explicit spin-label qualification.
2026-10-10 · Exchange-sign rule only; no proof of the relativistic spin–statistics theorem.
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- physics-identical-particle-statistics
- Revision
- university-reference.1
- Structured reference record
- University reference · University core expansion