Fermions cannot convert into bosons in a vacuum due to conservation laws, specifically concerning energy, momentum, and angular momentum. The discussion highlights that while photons, which are bosons, can be compressible, the term "compressible" is misleading when applied to fermions. A significant distinction is that bosons can form a Bose-Einstein condensate, a state unattainable by fermions. The conservation of the quantum state is crucial in understanding these transformations.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the fundamental properties of particles and their interactions in quantum states.
Can you explain what you mean by "(t)he system quantum state is conserved" and in what sense "photons are compressible"?anuttarasammyak said:An electron and a positron meet and become two photons. The system quantum state is conserved and photons are compressible. The reverse process is possible.
A single fermion in vacuum cannot turn into a single boson in vacuum due to conservation laws (can you tell which?). If you want to consider more than one particle please develop.RobbyQ said:TL;DR: Fermions to Bosons
Can Fermions turn into Bosons and thus share the same quantum state and become compressible?
And/Or is the opposite also possible?
"Compressible" is a poor term. The key thing that a system of bosons can do that a system of fermions can't is to form a Bose-Einstein condensate.RobbyQ said:share the same quantum state and become compressible?