Indistinguishability

Simon Saunders

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arXiv · 1609.05504

Indistinguishability

Simon Saunders

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Abstract

This is a systematic review of the concept of indistinguishability in both classical and quantum mechanics, with particular attention to Gibbs' paradox. Section 1 is on the Gibbs paradox; section 2 is a defense of the concept of classical indistinguishability, that addresses (and refutes) the view that classical particles can always be distinguished by their trajectories so are distinguishable. Section 3 is on the notion of object more generally, and on whether indistinguishables should be thought of as objects at all

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Simon Saunders. 2016-09-18. Indistinguishability. https://arxiv.org/abs/1609.05504

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