Many particle wave-functions to me have a very confusing methodology. I've been taught some procedure for creating wave functions that are symmetric or anti-symmetric upon exchange of coordinates.
I really struggle to understand how this comes about as a result of typical quantum mechanics. And often when see work that deals with multiple particles, I don't see any need for this type of methodology.
Is it possible that these rules about symmetry upon exchange can be explained by first principles? For example, the Hong-ou-mandel effect involves interference of bosons, but this "symmetric/antisymmetric" stuff is not typically invoked when discussing it. But it should be connected since its a multiparticle effect, right?
So overall: I'm looking to see if there are methods of finding "symmetric & antisymmetric" wavefunctions of fermions & bosons that can be explained by first principles (such as interference effects of multiparticle states).
