Pauli Exclusion Principle Turns 100 Years Old

Abstract

The Pauli exclusion principle states that two identical fermions cannot occupy the same quantum state simultaneously within a quantum system.  This means that there cannot be two electrons with the same set of quantum numbers in a given atom, which directly affects the electronic configuration of the atoms and therefore the chemical properties of the elements. Furthermore, the Pauli exclusion principle has significant implications for a variety of physical and astrological phenomena, including the stability of matter, the properties of conductors and insulators, and the structure and evolution of stars, including white dwarfs and neutron stars.