Does Pauli's Exclusion Principle Apply to the Entire Universe?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the applicability of Pauli's exclusion principle to the entire universe, exploring whether it is limited to particles in proximity or if it extends universally. Participants reference external sources, including a video and Wikipedia, to frame their arguments.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the universality of Pauli's exclusion principle, citing a video that suggests it applies to the entire universe, contrasting this with Wikipedia's explanation that it applies to particles in proximity.
  • Another participant argues that the principle is typically applied to particles that are in close proximity, suggesting that particles in different locations are sufficiently distinct.
  • A reference is made to a previous discussion involving responses from Prof. Brian Cox, indicating that this topic has been debated before.
  • There is a contention regarding Brian Cox's assertion that every electron in the universe is aware of the state of every other electron, with one participant suggesting this claim is incorrect.
  • Another participant defends Cox's position, stating that while the effect may be negligible and not measurable, it is not incorrect, and suggests a deeper understanding of quantum field theory (QFT) is necessary for clarity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the applicability of Pauli's exclusion principle, with no consensus reached on whether it applies universally or is limited to particles in proximity.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the definitions of proximity and the implications of quantum mechanics on the interpretation of the principle across the universe.

gibbson_e
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I discovered the existence of Pauli's exclusion principle from this section of this video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f9wcSLs8ZQ&t=35m30s

If you watch it for a bit, he explains that it applies to the whole universe. Is this true? On Wikipedia it says otherwise:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauli_exclusion_principle
"For example, no two electrons in a single atom can have the same four quantum numbers; if n, l, and ml are the same, ms must be different such that the electrons have opposite spins, and so on."

If it applies to the whole universe, that's ****in insane.
 
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The principle is usually to applied to particles in proximity. Particles in different locations are different enough by location.
 
So the jist of that is Brian Cox is wrong about instantaneous? He still persists to say that "And so, every electron in the Universe knows about the state of every other electron"
 
Last edited:
He isn't wrong, the effect simply isn't measurable and is infact so small as to be slightly meaningless. At least that's how I understands it... seems like you need to learn QFT if you want to go into the nitty gritty details.
 

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