What Force Causes Electron Repulsion in the 1s State?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the forces and principles governing electron behavior in the 1s state, particularly focusing on the Pauli exclusion principle (PEP) and its relationship with the Heisenberg uncertainty principle (HUP). Participants explore theoretical and conceptual aspects of these principles within quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the repulsion preventing more than two electrons in the 1s state is due to a force, while others argue that the Pauli exclusion principle is not a force but a result of the spin-1/2 nature of electrons.
  • There is a contention regarding the connection between the Pauli exclusion principle and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, with some asserting that there is no direct connection, while others question if one is more fundamental than the other.
  • A few participants suggest that the Pauli exclusion principle can be viewed as a source of force in certain astrophysical contexts, such as in white dwarf and neutron stars.
  • Concerns are raised about how particles "know" of each other's presence, leading to speculation about the existence of messenger particles.
  • Some participants discuss the derivation of the Pauli exclusion principle and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, noting that both are consequences of the axioms of quantum mechanics.
  • One participant visualizes fermions as a condensation of the quantum vacuum field, suggesting that the field's limitations prevent identical fermions from occupying the same state.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the nature of forces related to the Pauli exclusion principle and the relationship between the PEP and HUP. The discussion remains unresolved, with no consensus on these points.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the theoretical versus experimental derivation of quantum principles, indicating a nuanced understanding that varies among contributors. The discussion reflects differing interpretations of foundational concepts in quantum mechanics.

pivoxa15
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There must be a force repulsing the electrons for no more than two in the 1s state for example. What force is that?

How is this principle connected to the HUP?
 
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There is no force behind the exclusion principle -- until you get to phenomenological models in condense matter theory, which occasionally postulates such a fictitious force. The exclusion principle is solely due to the spin-1/2 nature of electrons.
 
And there's no connection with the HUP, since this follows from the axioms without considering the symmetrization/antisymmetrization of the state vector.
 
As the others said, there is no force behind the Pauli principle. In fact, the pauli prinicple can be the SOURCE of force, degenerate pressure; in for example White dwarf stars, and neutron stars.
 
I find that hard to believe. How then can particles know about the presence of the other?

There must be messenger particles of somesort?
 
dextercioby said:
And there's no connection with the HUP, since this follows from the axioms without considering the symmetrization/antisymmetrization of the state vector.

So the HUP is more fundalmental?

Is Pauli's exclusion principles derived experimentally or theoretically?
 
pivoxa15 said:
I find that hard to believe. How then can particles know about the presence of the other?

There must be messenger particles of somesort?

Welcome to the world of Quantum mechanics! =)
 
pivoxa15 said:
So the HUP is more fundalmental?

Is Pauli's exclusion principles derived experimentally or theoretically?

According to what I have learned (and my books do not mention anything else), it is derived theoretically. Just look it up in your QM books in the chapters on "Identical particles".



And what do you mean "more fundamental", the HUP is also derived from theory, not so very difficult either.
 
Pivoxa, it may help you to visualize the PEP this way. Imagine that a fermion is a condensation of the quantum vacuum field, and that the field has a "carrying capacity". In other words, the field cannot support the existence of two identical fermions in the same state. The fermions do not "know" where they are in relation to one another, nor do they repel one another - their failure to superimpose is a characteristic limitation of the field in which they arise. The existence of a fermion in a quantum state drives the probability of the existence of a same-spin twin in that same quantum state toward zero.
 
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  • #10
All physics is experimental -- otherwise it's maths. The uncertainty principle is was a *principle* when Heisenberg proposed it, extrapolating on experimental evidence; now, we tend to derived it, as a consequence of the formalism (Hilbert spaces and projection operators). What is theoretical in one view is experimental in another. If you're serious about wanting to learn about quantum mechanics, get a good book -- I recommend Heisenberg's original, Physical Principles of Quantum Theory, which is a short and cheap book.
 
  • #11
pivoxa15 said:
So the HUP is more fundalmental?

Is Pauli's exclusion principles derived experimentally or theoretically?

No, the HUP is a consequence of the axioms, the Pauli exclusion principle is a conseqance of the axioms as well. Therefore none is more fundamental than the other.
 

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