identical particles

College Physics
11th Edition
ISBN:9781305952300
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Chapter1: Units, Trigonometry. And Vectors
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1CQ: Estimate the order of magnitude of the length, in meters, of each of the following; (a) a mouse, (b)...
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Explain under what circumstances identical particles may be regarded as
distinguishable

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Step 1: Identical particles may be regarded as distinguishable.

Identical particles are particles that have the same intrinsic properties, such as mass, spin, and charge. This means that they cannot be distinguished from one another by any physical experiment.

However, there are some circumstances in which identical particles may be regarded as distinguishable.

  • Labeling: Identical particles can be labeled with external labels, such as different colors or positions. These labels are not intrinsic properties of the particles themselves, but they can be used to distinguish them from each other.
  • Quantum entanglement: Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon in which two or more particles are linked together in such a way that they share the same fate, even if they are separated by a large distance. If two entangled particles are labeled, then the labels can be used to distinguish them from each other, even though they are identical particles.
  • Quantum decoherence: Quantum decoherence is a process in which quantum information is lost due to interactions with the environment. If two identical particles are exposed to different environments, then they can become decohered and distinguishable from each other.
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