(c) Dr Paul Kinsler. [Acknowledgements & Feedback]

This is part of an information maze -- see the index-file for the full picture.

Fermions

Fermions are quantum objects which have "half-integral" quantum spins - that is, spins of 1/2, or 3/2, or 5/2, ... and so on. Because of this, no two fermions can be in the same quantum state at the same time. This is why the electrons in an atom fill up successively higher "rungs" on their "ladder" of energy levels. This effect is often called the "Pauli-exclusion principle".

Both protons and neutrons are fermions. Compare fermions with bosons.

XINDEX: spin, quantum-mechanic, proton, neutron, electron, boson, index-file.

19990610 19961206 (c) Paul Kinsler

XKEYWORD: fermion

Email Feedback: Dr.Paul.Kinsler@physics.org

LOGBUG