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American Journal of Physics

Three perspectives on Schrödinger’s cat

John G. Loeser

Published Dec 1, 1984• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The resolutions to the paradox of Schrödinger’s cat engendered by three major perspectives on quantum mechanics—quantum logic, the many worlds interpretation, and the Copenhagen interpretation—are discussed. The core of each perspective is revealed in the process. Each resolution to Schrödinger’s cat has a counterpart which solves the logical paradox known as the unexpected hanging. The rather striking parallels serve to emphasize several points. First, the quantum paradox is an epistemological and not a physical one. Second, the three interpretations mentioned, unlike some others, are faithful to this understanding. And third, the pitfalls in these two paradoxes have a somewhat universal character.

DOI
10.1119/1.13765

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Since the purpose of the paper1 in question was to examine the responses to Schrödinger’s cat paradox that are engendered by three particular approaches to quantum mechanics, it is appropriate to comment only on the extent to which the given responses do indeed represent the views of proponents of the various interpretations. For the cases of quantum logic and the many worlds interpretation, I believe that the author has indeed captured the essence of a response that a supporter of that interpretation would give. But I should hope that a supporter of the Copenhagen interpretation would not give the response attributed to him, for it completely misses the point.

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The resolutions to the paradox of Schrödinger’s cat engendered by three major perspectives on quantum mechanics—quantum logic, the many worlds interpretation, and the Copenhagen interpretation—are discussed. The core of each perspective is revealed in the process. Each resolution to Schrödinger’s cat has a counterpart which solves the logical paradox known as the unexpected hanging. The rather striking parallels serve to emphasize several points. First, the quantum paradox is an epistemological and not a physical one. Second, the three interpretations mentioned, unlike some others, are faithful to this understanding. And third, the pitfalls in these two paradoxes have a somewhat universal character.
Since the purpose of the paper1 in question was to examine the responses to Schrödinger’s cat paradox that are engendered by three particular approaches to quantum mechanics, it is appropriate to comment only on the extent to which the given responses do indeed represent the views of proponents of the various interpretations. For the cases of quantum logic and the many worlds interpretation, I believe that the author has indeed captured the essence of a response that a supporter of that interpretation would give. But I should hope that a supporter of the Copenhagen interpretation would not give the response attributed to him, for it completely misses the point.
Quantum mechanics is an important understanding of modern physics, and one of China’s first quantum experimental satellites is also launched in July of this year, but around the confusion about the interpretation of quantum philosophy, yet there has not a perfect answer today. “Schrodinger’s cat” is put forward by the Austrian physicist Schrodinger in 1935; it is a name for a quantum state, its production not only has its specific physical incentives, but also has the corresponding philosophical roots. Everett, the author of the “multi-world explanation”, explains that the explanation of “multi-world explanation” to the quantum philosophy from the point of view of Schrodinger’s cat in physics has not only helped us understand the nature of quantum mechanics, to solve the philosophical controversy that has revolved around quantum mechanics, but also deepened our understanding of multi-world interpretations where physics and philosophy blend. This article starts with the famous experiment Schrödinger’s Cat and then tells us two well-known answers to quantum mechanics in the history, that is the Copenhagen Interpretation and the Multi-World Interpretation. By comparing the differences between the two, it emphasis on the correctness of the “multi-world interpretation”. Then it can deepen our understanding of the concept of “Schrodinger’s Cat”, “Quantum Mechanics” and multi-world interpretations.
Erwin Schrodinger first described the thought-experiment which has since become known as 'the paradox of Schrodinger's cat' 51 years ago. In recent years, popular accounts of quantum mechanics have tended to adopt one or other of the philosophically most extreme solutions to this paradox, i.e. the consciousness hypothesis or the many worlds interpretation. The author attempts to redress the balance by describing what he takes to be the orthodox solution to the paradox which explains the paradox, without recourse to such counterintuitive notions as a cat simultaneously dead and alive or a universe continually splitting into multiple worlds, as being due to a misapplication of the quantum formalism.
Schrodinger's cat thought experiment highlights the paradox of quantum superposition, which challenges classical interpretation of reality. This paper introduces a new perspective that addresses the coexistence of quantum states through an almost superposition in three - dimensional space. By building on a previous theory of space, the author suggests that quantum systems exhibit an almost simultaneity of states, which resolves the philosophical concerns raised by Schrodinger and Einstein. This novel framework negates the need for many world interpretations and provides a clearer understanding of quantum behavior.
Standard quantum theory is highly successful in all its applications, from photons and atoms, to semiconductors, superconductors, quarks, and so on. Yet the need to understand what the theory is really trying to tell us about the nature of the world beyond specific predictions forces us into the realm of philosophy, or, as some have dubbed it, quantum metaphysics: the study of the interpretation of quantum mechanics. There is a wide range of opinions regarding the philosophical foundations of quantum mechanics. This chapter focuses on two of the most prominent interpretations: the Copenhagen interpretation, and one alternative interpretation that has been gaining some support in recent years, the many-worlds interpretation (MWI), also known as the many universes interpretation. The central issues of contention are: firstly, that the measurement of some attribute of a quantum system generally involves the probabilistic collapse, or reduction, of the state vector where the probabilistic nature of the process is inherent—that is, not reducible to a more fundamental, deterministic explanation; and, secondly, the problem of bringing a measurement to a completion—a problem generally known as the measurement paradox.
Abstract Quantum physics is changed in an unexpected way. Scientists believe that the study of quantum physics will play an important role in future technology. Therefore, it is meaningful to study quantum physics. The aim of this paper is to provide an initial explanation of the quantum world through the classical single particle double-slit interpretation experiment, and to answer a few questions about the experiment using mainstream quantum mechanical interpretations, such as the Copenhagen interpretation and the Many-Worlds interpretation. The superposition state, which is the core of the Copenhagen interpretation, is then introduced. The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox and locality are also introduced, and the relationship between the latter and special relativity is analyzed. The author also discusses whether non-locality leads to retrocausality. Finally, the author discusses the relationship between multi-world interpretation and Schrodinger’s cat, but this may raise some philosophical questions. However, realist and hidden variable interpretation are also consistent as long as locality is abandoned.