A Symmetrisation of wave function for fermions

djelovin
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
The wave function for fermions has to be anti-symmetric with respect to exchange of positions of electrons, but what if it depends on wave vector as well. Does they have to be exchanged as well, in other words, for two-electron system what is correct

Ψ(r1,k1,r2,k2) = - Ψ(r2,k1,r1,k2)

or

Ψ(r1,k1,r2,k2) = - Ψ(r2,k2,r1,k1)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The wave vector and the position are just different representations of the same Hilbert space. You can use either to represent your state but not both at the same time.

That being said, it is the overall state that should be antisymmetric under the exchange of the electrons. If you have an additional degree of freedom that the state depends on (spin comes to mind) then you need to make the full state antisymmetric. If the state in the additional degree of freedom is already antisymmetric your spatial wavefunction will be symmetric. Positronium in the spin-0 state comes to mind.
 
Thanx for quick replay,
That somewhat clarifies my problem.
However I have particles in continuum, in the presence of some potential, that are described by Coulomb (Coulomb-like to be more precise) wave function that does depend on both, wave vector and position at the same time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulomb_wave_function
The system is in singlet state, so spin related part can be taken out.
 
Last edited:
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. Towards the end of the first lecture for the Qiskit Global Summer School 2025, Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, Olivia Lanes (Global Lead, Content and Education IBM) stated... Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/quantum-entanglement-is-a-kinematic-fact-not-a-dynamical-effect/ by @RUTA
If we release an electron around a positively charged sphere, the initial state of electron is a linear combination of Hydrogen-like states. According to quantum mechanics, evolution of time would not change this initial state because the potential is time independent. However, classically we expect the electron to collide with the sphere. So, it seems that the quantum and classics predict different behaviours!

Similar threads

Replies
8
Views
1K
Replies
27
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
14
Views
4K
Back
Top