{
  "id": "quant-ph/0409025",
  "version": "v2",
  "published": "2004-09-03T17:58:48.000Z",
  "updated": "2004-09-03T22:35:07.000Z",
  "title": "Individuality as an illusion",
  "authors": [
    "Adonai S. Sant'Anna"
  ],
  "comment": "23 pages, no figures",
  "categories": [
    "quant-ph"
  ],
  "abstract": "Elementary particles in quantum mechanics (QM) are indistinguishable when sharing the same intrinsic properties and the same quantum state. So, we can consider quantum particles as non-individuals, although non-individuality is usually considered as a consequence of the formalism of QM, since the entanglement of states forbids any labelling process. We show how to consider non-individuality as one of the basic principles of QM, instead of a logical consequence. The advantages of our framework are discussed as well. We also show that even in classical particle mechanics it is possible to consider the existence of non-individual particles. One of our main contributions is to show how to derive the apparent individuality of classical particles from the assumption that all physical objects are non-individuals.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v2",
      "updated": "2004-09-03T22:35:07.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "quantum state",
      "quantum particles",
      "non-individuality",
      "elementary particles",
      "states forbids"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 23,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable",
      "adsabs": "2004quant.ph..9025S"
    }
  }
}