Graduate Can four electrons form a completely antisymmetric joint spin WF？

[edpmodel]

TL;DR

Can four (or more) electrons form a completely antisymmetric joint spin wave function？

Can four (or more) electrons form a completely antisymmetric joint spin wave function？

 

[Vanadium 50]

I don't know what you mean, but probably no.

If I swap 1 and 2 and the sign flips, and 1 and 3 and the sign flips, what happens when I swap 2 and 3?

 

[edpmodel]

I don't know what you mean, but probably no.

If I swap 1 and 2 and the sign flips, and 1 and 3 and the sign flips, what happens when I swap 2 and 3?

In some textbooks and articles, joint spin wave function of three and four electrons are provided. But I have not seen the joint spin wave function of three or more electrons multiplied by their space wave function. I doubt it can't be done at all.
But multi-electronic systems do exist in reality. Something may be wrong with quantum theory.

 

[DrClaude]

In some textbooks and articles, joint spin wave function of three and four electrons are provided. But I have not seen the joint spin wave function of three or more electrons multiplied by their space wave function. I doubt it can't be done at all.
But multi-electronic systems do exist in reality. Something may be wrong with quantum theory.

If your question is whether we can write a spin state for many electrons that is anti-symmetric with respect to the exchange any two electrons, then the answer is of course yes. The simplest procedure to construct them is a Slater determinant.

By the way, the state doesn't have to be separable into spatial and spin parts for it follow the Pauli principle.

 

[PeterDonis]

Something may be wrong with quantum theory.

No, something is wrong with your understanding of how quantum states work.

Remarks like this are a good way to get yourself a warning.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Something may be wrong with quantum theory.

Of course, it's never "There must be something I don't understand." It's always "there is a problem with conventional science."

 

[edpmodel]

If your question is whether we can write a spin state for many electrons that is anti-symmetric with respect to the exchange any two electrons, then the answer is of course yes. The simplest procedure to construct them is a Slater determinant.

By the way, the state doesn't have to be separable into spatial and spin parts for it follow the Pauli principle.

Sorry, I made some mis-expression. I should mean "completely antisymmetric joint spin wave function of 4 or more electrons".

 

[edpmodel]

No, something is wrong with your understanding of how quantum states work.

Remarks like this are a good way to get yourself a warning.

Sorry, I made some mis-expression. I should mean "completely antisymmetric joint spin wave function of 4 or more electrons". May I understand it that there is no completely antisymmetric joint spin wave function of 4 or more electrons.

 

[DrClaude]

I don't see how you could do it for even three electrons. As soon as you have more than two, two of them must have the same spin, hence it is impossible to form an anti-symmetric spin state. In any case, you need more degrees of freedom to satisfy the Pauli exclusion principle, so it all fits together: the full wave function will be anti-symmetric, but it is no longer separable into a spatial part and a spin part.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Despite the OPs protests that QM is fundamentally broken, we know from chemistry that what he wants just doesn't happen. Lithium is an alkali metal, not a halogen. Beryllium is a metal, not an inert gas. Helium is an inert gas, not a metal.

 

[edpmodel]

Despite the OPs protests that QM is fundamentally broken, we know from chemistry that what he wants just doesn't happen. Lithium is an alkali metal, not a halogen. Beryllium is a metal, not an inert gas. Helium is an inert gas, not a metal.

I remarked "Something may be wrong with quantum theory". I meant our understanding of QM might have mistake. QM is correct, but our understanding of it is not always so.

 

[weirdoguy]

but our understanding of it is not always so

Can you give an example?

 

[edpmodel]

I don't see how you could do it for even three electrons. As soon as you have more than two, two of them must have the same spin, hence it is impossible to form an anti-symmetric spin state. In any case, you need more degrees of freedom to satisfy the Pauli exclusion principle, so it all fits together: the full wave function will be anti-symmetric, but it is no longer separable into a spatial part and a spin part.

I agree. I am working on a model where a joint WF with anti-symmetric joint spin part is desired.

I seem to have obtained a wave function with mixed antisymmetry, which exactly meets my expectations, but it cannot meet the conservation of angular momentum. I should have an argument to support such a result.

 

[PeterDonis]

I remarked "Something may be wrong with quantum theory". I meant our understanding of QM might have mistake. QM is correct, but our understanding of it is not always so.

My remarks in post #5 apply to this as well. You should not presume to make such claims about "our" understanding. Your understanding of QM might not be correct.

 

[PeterDonis]

I am working on a model

Personal theories and personal speculations are off limits here.

 

[PeterDonis]

May I understand it that there is no completely antisymmetric joint spin wave function of 4 or more electrons.

This was answered in post #9.

 

[PeterDonis]

The OP question has been answered and the OP now seems to be veering off into personal speculation. This thread is now closed. Thanks to all who participated.