An Exclusion Principle for Sum-Free Quantum Numbers

Abstract

A hypothetical exclusion principle for quantum particles is introduced that generalizes the exclusion and inclusion principles for fermions and bosons, respectively: the correlated exclusion principle. The sum-free condition for Schur numbers can be read off as a form of exclusion principle for quantum particles. Consequences of this interpretation are analysed within the framework of quantum many-body systems. A particular instance of the correlated exclusion principle can be solved explicitly yielding a sequence of quantum numbers that exhibits a fractal structure and is a relative of the Thue-Thurston sequence. The corresponding algebra of creation and annihilation operators can be identified in terms of commutation and anticommutation relations of a restricted version of the hard-core boson algebra.