Seminar of Physics of Wrocław University of Technology
PWr, bud. A1, sala 322
Entropy versus quanta
Prof. dr hab. Józef Spałek
Instytut Fizyki Teoretycznej, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Kraków
Fundamental postulate of quantum mechanics is the principle of superposition of states along with the dual nature of elementary components of matter. In this paper, I will address an equally important issue - the principle of indistinguishability of quantum particles, i.e., the way they are counted by maximizing the entropy of the system. A purely statistical approach thus creates the possibility of testing selected quantum properties (e.g., state entanglement through von Neumann entropy).
In the lecture, I propose, using the example of strongly correlated electrons and their spin-dependent large effective masses of quasiparticles, how to describe and test the transformation of indistinguishable particles into their distinguishable counterparts and vice versa. If time permits, I will briefly discuss how to characterize the covalent chemical bonding (using the example of the H₂ molecule) with the help of von Neumann entropy.
The lecture is intended to be of didactic character.
*) Supported by Grants Nos. OPUS UMO-2021/41/B/ST3/04070
and nr UMO-2023/49/ST3/03545 from National Science Center (NCN).
**) Collaborators: Danuta Goc-Jagło, Piotr Kuterba, Maciej Hendzel, Maciej Fidrysiak.
