The Relation of Constraints on Particle Statistics for Different Species of Particles

Quons are particles characterized by the parameter q, which permits smooth interpolation between Bose and Fermi statistics; q = 1 gives bosons, q = −1 gives fermions. In this paper we give a heuristic argument for an extension of conservation of statistics to quons with trilinear couplings of the form f̄ fb, where f is fermion-like and b is boson-like. We show that q2 f = qb. In particular, we relate the bound on qγ for photons to the bound on qe for electrons, allowing the very precise bound for electrons to be carried over to photons. An extension of this argument suggests that all particles are fermions or bosons to high precision. Supported in part by a Semester Research Grant from the General Research Board of the University of Maryland and by a grant from the National Science Foundation. On leave from Amherst College