Fermions, such as electrons, protons, and neutrons, obey Fermi-Dirac statistics. A key rule for fermions is the Pauli Exclusion Principle, which says that no two identical fermions can occupy the same quantum state at the same time. This principle explains why electrons fill up different energy levels in atoms and why matter has structure and stability.
On the other hand, bosons, such as photons (particles of light) and the Higgs boson, follow Bose-Einstein statistics. Unlike fermions, bosons can share the same quantum state without any restriction. This ability allows phenomena like laser light (many photons in the same state) and Bose-Einstein condensates, where atoms clump into a single quantum state at ultra-low temperatures.
The difference in these statistics is fundamental to the structure of matter and energy in the universe:
- Fermions build the matter we see.
- Bosons are force carriers and help mediate interactions between matter particles.