What is the name for a cat in a box? - briefly
The term "Schrödinger's cat" refers to a thought experiment that illustrates a paradox of quantum superposition. In this scenario, a hypothetical cat may be simultaneously both alive and dead due to being linked to a random quantum event.
What is the name for a cat in a box? - in detail
The thought experiment known as "Schrödinger's Cat" is one of the most famous illustrations of quantum superposition and the paradoxes associated with it. Proposed by physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935, the scenario involves a hypothetical cat that may be simultaneously both alive and dead due to being linked to a random quantum event. Here is an in-depth look at this intriguing concept:
The experiment begins with a cat placed in a sealed box along with a device containing a small amount of radioactive material. The decay of the radioactive substance is considered a quantum event, which can only be described probabilistically. If the atom decays, it triggers a mechanism that releases a poisonous gas, killing the cat. Conversely, if the atom does not decay during the observation period, the cat remains alive.
According to the principles of quantum mechanics, the system comprising the cat and the radioactive substance is in a superposition of states until it is observed. This means that, from the perspective of an outside observer, the cat is both alive and dead simultaneously. It is only when the box is opened and the cat's state is observed that the quantum superposition collapses into one definite state: either alive or dead.
Schrödinger devised this thought experiment to highlight what he saw as an absurdity in the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, which posits that a system does not have definite properties until it is measured. By extending the quantum principles to a macroscopic object like a cat, Schrödinger aimed to showcase the counterintuitive nature of superposition and the need for further exploration into the foundations of quantum theory.
In conclusion, "Schrödinger's Cat" serves as a powerful metaphor illustrating the strange and sometimes paradoxical nature of quantum mechanics. It continues to be a subject of philosophical debate and scientific inquiry, challenging our understanding of the fundamental workings of the universe.