Generalized spin-statistic selection rules (SSSR) for the arbitrary number of photons N γ involved in atomic transitions are established. These selection rules are similar to those for systems of many equivalent electrons in atomic theory. The latter are a direct consequence of symmetrization postulate (SP) and the Pauli exclusion principle (PEP) (or its more general formulation is spin-statistics connection (SSC)). In this sense, the SSSR play the role of the exclusion principle for photons: they forbid some particular states for the photon systems. This selection rule represents an extension of the Landau-Yang theorem (LYT) to the photons involved in atomic transitions. The possible experimental test of generalized SSSR are also proposed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2837-2842
JournalEuropean Physical Journal D
Volume226
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

    Research areas

  • Generalized spin-statistic selection rules

ID: 7756851