Dynamical indistinguishability and statistics in quantum fluids

For a system to qualify as a quantum fluid, quantum-statistical effects should operate in addition to quantum-mechanical ones. Here, we address the hitherto unexplored dynamical condition for the quantum-statistical effects to be manifested, and consider particle exchange events in the gaslike regime of fluid dynamics as a dynamical process with an intrinsic time scale. We subsequently propose a quantitative criterion of particle indistinguishability and associated quantum statistics to be inoperative at short time and emerge at long time. Experimentally verifiable, our predictions enable a systematic search for a transition between statistics-active and statistics-inactive regimes in quantum fluids. •We discuss a dynamical condition for the quantum-statistical effects to be observed.•We propose a quantitative criterion of particle indistinguishability.•Quantum statistics is predicted to be inoperative at short time.•We predict a transition between statistics-active and inactive regimes.•Our predictions are experimentally verifiable.