Concept of boson and fermion applied to atoms and more

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the classification of atoms and molecules as bosons or fermions based on their total spin. Helium-4 atoms are identified as bosons due to their integer spin, while hydrogen atoms, despite having a total spin of 1, are classified as fermions because they consist of an odd number of fermions. The key takeaway is that composite particles with an even number of fermions are bosons, while those with an odd number are fermions. Additionally, hydrogen molecules (H2) are confirmed to be bosons, yet they do not exhibit superfluidity like helium due to their freezing point.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum mechanics and particle statistics
  • Familiarity with the concepts of bosons and fermions
  • Knowledge of atomic structure, including protons, neutrons, and electrons
  • Basic grasp of spin and its significance in particle classification
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties of helium-3 and helium-4 in quantum statistics
  • Study the implications of spin in particle physics
  • Explore the phenomenon of superfluidity in different substances
  • Investigate the behavior of composite particles in quantum mechanics
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, particularly those focused on quantum mechanics, particle physics, and atomic theory, will benefit from this discussion.

fluidistic
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Sometime I read that the helium atoms can be considered as boson, but I don't understand why. I know that its nucleous has a spin of 2 (integer) and that its 2 electrons gives the atom a total spin of 3, an integer.
But then why isn't hydrogen considered also as a boson? I think it's considered as a fermion, like the electron itself. Why? The total spin of the H atom isn't 1 (thus an integer)? It seems like only the nucleous is the only important thing in deciding whether an atom can be considered as a boson or fermion, why is it so? And if I have a molecule, how do I determine whether it's a boson or fermion?
In Wikipedia one can read
Wiki the Great said:
(they follow different quantum statistics: helium-4 atoms are bosons while helium-3 atoms are fermions).
and also
Wiki the Giant said:
In particle physics, bosons ( /ˈboʊsɒn/[1]) are subatomic particles with integer spin (s = 0, 1, 2 etc.) that are governed by Bose-Einstein statistics.
where the enphasis is mine.
Can someone explain me when I can call a particle/atom/molecule a boson?
 
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It depends on spin. Composite particles with an even number of fermions is a boson with integer total spin. Particles composed of an odd number of fermions is a fermion with half-integer total spin.

A proton by itself is a fermion ( 3 quarks). A hydrogen atom has four fermions- 3 quarks and an electron- and is considered a boson.

ETA:
A hydrogen molecule (H2) consists of two bosons and is a boson.

That wiki page should read particle.
 
Last edited:
Jimmy said:
It depends on spin. Composite particles with an even number of fermions is a boson with integer total spin. Particles composed of an odd number of fermions is a fermion with half-integer total spin.

A proton by itself is a fermion ( 3 quarks). A hydrogen atom has four fermions- 3 quarks and an electron- and is considered a boson.

ETA:
A hydrogen molecule (H2) consists of two bosons and is a boson.

That wiki page should read particle.

Ok thank you very, very much! So in a way I'm either a fermion or boson. :-p
 
I'm also wondering about something related. So hydrogen molecules are bosons. However, when they interact, do they behave as bosons? Why does liquid hydrogen not display superfluidity as helium, both the 3 and 4 versions do?

Is there a size scale at which composite bosons no longer display the properties of bosons?
 
chill_factor said:
I'm also wondering about something related. So hydrogen molecules are bosons. However, when they interact, do they behave as bosons? Why does liquid hydrogen not display superfluidity as helium, both the 3 and 4 versions do?

Is there a size scale at which composite bosons no longer display the properties of bosons?

Hydrogen freezes before it can get superfluid.
 

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