Spectroscopic Test of the Symmetrization Postulate for Spin-0 Nuclei

We have used diode laser absorption spectroscopy of the “A” band of molecular oxygen near 762 nm to provide a sensitive experimental test of the symmetrization postulate of quantum mechanics. We place an upper limit of $(0.8\pm 1.3)\times {10}^{-6\mathrm{}}$ on the probability of finding two identical ${}^{16}$O nuclei in an antisymmetric state. This is one of the first sensitive tests of the symmetrization postulate for spin-0 particles.