Fock spaces semantics and number of particles

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The discussion centers on the concept of Fock spaces and their relation to Hilbert spaces for single particles. It explores the definition of a Hilbert space for a single particle, emphasizing the need to specify the basis, such as spin or momentum. Participants clarify that Fock space incorporates symmetrization or antisymmetrization for identical particles, distinguishing it from simple tensor products of Hilbert spaces. The conversation also addresses how to represent Fock states as tuples and what it means for a state to have a well-defined number of particles. Overall, the dialogue seeks to clarify foundational concepts in quantum mechanics related to particle states and their mathematical representation.
TheBlackNinja
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I was not formally introduced to this math, so I appreciate corrections but I'll give my impressions.

The fock space for a particle with space H is
(c, H, HxH, HxHxH, ... )

1: What is a hilbert space for a single particle? I believe know what a hilbert space is, but for 'a particle'.. what is the base of this space? what to its vectors mean?

2: Operaions on Direct sums of spaces are defined as parallel operations over vector of those spaces. If each position on a tuple does not have a single vector associated(or it has?), like a basis vector, what would mean in the fock space, for example, (0, 1 ,1 , 0 ..0..), (0, 2 ,1 , 0 ..0..), (0, 1 ,1 , 0 ..0..) or (0, 0.5 ,0 , 0 ..0..)

3: How would fock states be denoted as tuples of the fock space? like, would |2> be (0,0,1,0...) ?

4: What does it mean for a state to have a 'well defined number of particles'? that all except one coefficient on a fock tuple is non zero?
 
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TheBlackNinja said:
1: What is a hilbert space for a single particle? I believe know what a hilbert space is, but for 'a particle'.. what is the base of this space? what to its vectors mean?

You still have to define the basis: choose if your Hilbert space is describing spin or momentum or position. The phrase "Hilbert space for single particle" does not tell anything about the representation; it only says that we are describing just one particle (and not a system of several particles).
 
Ok, so let {|a>, |b>,|c>} be a base of vectors for describing position in space and time and |psi>=|b>+|c> be the wavefunction of a particle. What is the "particles Hilbert space" in this case?
 
The fock space for a particle with space H is (c, H, HxH, HxHxH, ... )
Not quite. Fock Space is a quotient space of what you have written. The symmetry/antisymmetry that goes with identical particles is built into the definition of Fock Space. Whereas in H ⊗ H, |1>|2> and |2>|1> are two distinct states, Fock Space contains one state which is the symmetric/antisymmetric linear combination of these two.
 
Ok, its (c, H, S(HxH), S(HxHxH), ... ) where S is a symmetrizing or anti-symmetrizing according to the particle type. Its impossible to edut.

This answer helps me(Lubos's)

http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/30751/what-is-the-single-particle-hilbert-space

So the "Hilber space for a single particle" is the set of all states on my original space which describe a single particle. I still don't understand |1> for example - this vector alone describes all single particle states?
 
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