The connection between spin and statistics

Citation
Rt. Deck et Jd. Walker, The connection between spin and statistics, PHYS SCR, 63(1), 2001, pp. 7-14
Citations number
10
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICA SCRIPTA
ISSN journal
02811847 → ACNP
Volume
63
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
7 - 14
Database
ISI
SICI code
0281-1847(200101)63:1<7:TCBSAS>2.0.ZU;2-N
Abstract
We demonstrate that the exchange of two identical particles can be effected by a rotation of a coordinate system defined by the two particles through an angle pi. It is then a consequence of the intimate connection between th e generator of a space rotation and the total angular momentum operator, th at the effect of the particle exchange on the ket corresponding to the phys ical system is dependent upon the integer or half-integer character of the particle spins. From this it can be concluded that the connection between s pin and statistics that derives from the symmetry of the identical particle system under particle exchange is explained (in the most fundamental way) by the equivalence between the exchange of two identical particles and a ro tation in configuration space.