The Connection between Spin and Statistics in Quantum Mechanics
Prof. Robert T. Deck
University of Toledo
Abstract
We challenge the traditional explanation of the quantum mechanical
Spin-Statistics
Theorem based on field theory. Specifically, we demonstrate that the
exchange of two
identical particles can be carried out by spacial rotations, which
multiply the two-particle
probability amplitude by a phase factor that is either +1 or -1
depending on whether the
particles have integer or half-integer spins. From this it can be
concluded that the con-
nection between spin and particle exchange in explained in the most
fundamental way
by the intimate connection between the spin operator and the generator
of a rotation.