Comparison between Maxwell-
Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-
Dirac statistics
These three statistics concern when how particles occupy a system which consists
of several energy levels (and each energy level could also have several energy
states). A particle in this system can be in one of those energy levels depending on
the energy particle has. It’s impossible to have just one particle in a system since in
real life it needs various particles to constitute a system. They occupy the levels
under a statistics rule. There are three statistics:
Particles which are regulated by Maxwell-Boltzmann Statistics have to be
distinguishable each other and one energy state can be occupied by two or
more particles. Distinguishable means that if we have 2 particles, let say A
and B, also two states, 1 and 2, and we put A to state 1 and B to state 2, it
will be different with the distribution A to state 2 and B to state 1. It
means that A and B are distinct.
Particles which are regulated by Bose-Einstein Statistics have to be
indistinguishable each other and one energy state can be occupied by two
or more particles. So instead of saying it as particle A or B, we call it as
just “particle” since they are the same thing.
Particles which are regulated by Fermi-Dirac Statistics have to be
indistinguishable each other and one energy state can be occupied by only
one particle. So we have to fill it to another state when a state has just
been occupied by another particle.
Maxwell Boltzmann statistics is applicable to identical, distinguishable particle
of any type spin. The molecules of gas are particle of this type.
Bose Einstein statistics is applicable to the identical, indistinguishable particles
of zero or integral spin. These particles are called Bosons. Example photons,
Helium atom.
Fermi Dirac statistics is applicable to the identical, indistinguishable particles
of half integral spin. These particles obey Pauli Exclusion Principle .Ex
Electron, proton etc.
Maxwell–Boltzmann statistics apply to “classical” particles with non-
quantized energy levels. It turns out there aren’t any truly classical particles,
but M-B statistics is still a good approximation in many cases.
Bose–Einstein statistics apply to quantum particles with the property that
any number of particles can occupy any level. It turns out these are the
particles with integral “spin” such as photons and Helium-4 (but not Helium-
3) atoms.
Fermi–Dirac statistics - apply to quantum particles with the property that
only one particle can occupy any particular level. It turns out these are the
particles with half-integral “spin” such as electrons, neutrons and Helium-3
atoms.
Both BE and FD statistics converge (from opposite directions) on M-B
statistics when the density of particles is small compared to the Quantum
concentration, where the inter-particle distance is comparable to the de
Broglie wavelength.