Fermions from classical statistics

Abstract

We describe fermions in terms of a classical statistical ensemble. The states $\tau$ of this ensemble are characterized by a sequence of values one or zero or a corresponding set of two-level observables. Every classical probability distribution can be associated to a quantum state for fermions. If the time evolution of the classical probabilities $p_\tau$ amounts to a rotation of the wave function $q_\tau(t)=\pm \sqrt{p_\tau(t)}$, we infer the unitary time evolution of a quantum system of fermions according to a Schr\"odinger equation. We establish how such classical statistical ensembles can be mapped to Grassmann functional integrals. Quantum field theories for fermions arise for a suitable time evolution of classical probabilities for generalized Ising models.