Hail, Democritus (Atomic Theory)

[DGoncz@aol.com]

Hello, spr.

An alternate title for this post is:
"Quantum Mechanical Indistinguishibility versus Interchangeability".

My understanding at present is that the indistinguishibility of
elementary particles creates the possiblity of quantum tunneling and
other classically forbidden behavior. Appearance and simultaneous
disappearance are indistinguishible from tunneling. Like a mage's true
magik in legend; we witness deep truth, miraculous.

At some level, the elements of a set of dessert spoons are
indistinguishible. They are always interchangeable; that's what they
*do*. Like a stage magician's magic. We are fools, and fooled. Examined
more closely they are distinguishible.

Is it Bell's thoughts on hidden variables that make elementary
particles truly indistinguishible, that is, more than merely being
defined as such?

Would (or do) distinguishible, functionally interchangeable elementary
particles exhibit *any* classically forbidden behaviors? Or are they
mere stage magician's toys?

Does the enormous number of elementary particles of each type in the
universe(s) play any part in behavior? Or would two suffice?

Yours,

Doug Goncz
Replikon Research
Falls Church, VA 22044-0394