Schrodinger's Cat

 

A Thought Experiment . . .

Its Relationship To Parallel Worlds & The Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

Schrödinger’s Imaginary Cat Test is a thought test illustration regarding the quantum theory of superposition, as proposed by Erwin Schrödinger in 1935. In this test the cat exhibits an apparent conflict between what the quantum theory tells us is true regarding the nature and behavior of matter on the microscopic (objects not seen by the naked eye) level and what we observe to be true about the nature and behavior of matter on the macroscopic level or things that are visible to the unaided human eye.

Just a quick reminder: Quantum theory explains the nature and behavior of tiny bits of matter and energy on the atomic and sub-atomic level.  And superposition is a principle of quantum theory that describes the nature and behavior of matter and forces at the sub-atomic level. In other words this principle of superposition claims that while we do not know what the state of an object is, it is actually in all possible states simultaneously, as long as we don’t check on it, or ‘look’ at it.  

Here’s Schrödinger’s (theoretical) experiment; keep in mind that this is a hypothetical experiment:  A cat is placed in a box, together with a radioactive atom located within a Geiger-counter, a flask of poison, and a well placed hammer. If the atom decays or loses its energy during the test, the Geiger-counter detects as much and releases the hammer which shatters the flask which releases the poison, thus killing the cat.   Remember, hypothetical, so the cat’s OK.  Never the less, there is no way of knowing if the cat is dead or alive following a lapse of time until you take a quick peek into the box.

This, according to Schrödinger, places the cat itself into a superposition state of being dead and alive before a spectator opens the box and observes the cat, this action (looking inside the box) collapses the “wave function” of the cat of being two things at once (alive and dead) as is theorized by the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics which was established by several scientists sometime between 1924 & 1927.

It is widely believed that when Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger devised his now famous ‘cat in a box’ experiment in 1935 he was trying to illustrate what he considered to be a “problem” with this theory.

The Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics in accordance to my brief ‘nut shell’ understanding; is that it theorizes that atomic particles (such as Schrödinger’s cat) are capable of existing in more than one place at the same time but this only occurs up until such time or point of being ‘observed’.   This theory, I expect, if true proves that parallel worlds may in fact exist.

The Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics implies that after a while, the cat is simultaneously alive and dead. Yet, when we look in the box, we see the cat is actually alive or dead, not both alive and dead.

In the field of quantum mechanics we already know that superposition actually occurs as was discussed in yesterday’s Parallel Worlds Post at the subatomic level. Observable effects of interference are shown in the Double Slit Test, in which a single particle is demonstrated to be in multiple locations at the same time. What that fact implies about the nature of reality on the non subatomic level (cats, for example, as opposed to electrons) is one of the strangest areas of quantum physics. If in fact my interpretation of the Copenhagen Theory is even close to being right, I am not terribly impressed with the ‘Cat in the Box’ experiment.  Schrödinger, in fact is rumored to have said, a good bit later in life, that he wished he had never met that cat in the first place.

Sources …

http://www.google.com/searchq=Schrodinger's+Cat&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=560&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=7ChlTrSaM4n-sQKOysCICg&ved=0CE8QsAQ                http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci341236,00.html          http://www.buzzle.com/articles/basics-of-quantum-mechanics-for-dummies.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger's_cat                              http://tgsfree4allinfo.blogspot.com/2011/09/parallel-worlds.html