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American Journal of Physics

Introducing Schrödinger’s cat in the laboratory

T. J. Axon

Published Apr 1, 1989• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A laboratory session that is designed to introduce students to the conceptual foundations of quantum mechanics is described. In this laboratory session, several experiments are used in order to illustrate the important ideas of superposition, interference, and the ‘‘collapse’’ of the wavefunction. These experiments form the basis for a discussion of four of the most popular interpretations of quantum mechanics that have been proposed over the years: the instrumentalist interpretation, hidden variable theories, the objective view of the wavefunction, and the many-worlds interpretation. As a finale, students are introduced to the paradox that epitomizes the interpretational problems of quantum mechanics: the paradox of Schrödinger’s cat.

DOI
10.1119/1.16128

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A laboratory session that is designed to introduce students to the conceptual foundations of quantum mechanics is described. In this laboratory session, several experiments are used in order to illustrate the important ideas of superposition, interference, and the ‘‘collapse’’ of the wavefunction. These experiments form the basis for a discussion of four of the most popular interpretations of quantum mechanics that have been proposed over the years: the instrumentalist interpretation, hidden variable theories, the objective view of the wavefunction, and the many-worlds interpretation. As a finale, students are introduced to the paradox that epitomizes the interpretational problems of quantum mechanics: the paradox of Schrödinger’s cat.
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.
This preprint introduces a novel thought experiment—two sealed double-slit apparatuses, one with which-path detectors and one without—to resolve Schrödinger's cat paradox using only classical logic and standard quantum formalism. The interference pattern (or lack thereof) on each screen is determined by the experimental operational setup, not by later observation. Macroscopic objects like the cat reside in a quantum mixed state, not a quantum superposition state—which must be a pure state—even in a closed box. These concepts form the foundation of the Logical Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, a minimalist approach that preserves Aristotle's laws of thought, requires no supplementary postulates, and resolves paradoxes (measurement problem, EPR, cat) as linguistic artifacts. The interpretation aligns fully with quantum predictions and recognizes indistinguishability as the primary source of quantum behavior.
Schrödinger's cat has long been interpreted by the mainstream as intuitive proof of quantum superposition, but its original intention was Schrödinger's irony and reduction to absurdity of the Copenhagen interpretation. This paper points out that the so-called quantum superposition is not the real physical state of microscopic particles, but the uncertainty phenomenon caused by limited observation methods and inevitable measurement interference. Modern double-slit experiments have realized the emission of single electrons and single photons one by one. Even if only one particle is emitted each time, interference fringes still appear after accumulation. This fact directly proves that each particle has a unique and definite position and path at any time, rather than a superposition state passing through double slits simultaneously. The fundamental reason why a single particle can produce interference is that the particle itself vibrates continuously and has wave properties, rather than a metaphysical superposition state. From the four aspects of original intention, experimental evidence, physical nature and logical judgment, this paper thoroughly clarifies the conceptual substitution of superposition, reveals the objective laws of reality, certainty and uniqueness in the microscopic world, and calls on physics to return to rationality, logic and common sense.
In his famous thought experiment, Schrodinger(1935) imagined a cat that measures the value of a quantum mechanical observable with its life. Since Schrodinger’s time,no any interpretations or modifications of quantum mechanics have been proposed which gives clear unambiguous answers to the questions posed by Schrodinger’s cat of how long superpositions last and when (or whether) they collapse?In this book appropriate modification of quantum mechanics is proposed.We claim that canonical interpretation of the wave function ψ=с1ψ1+с2ψ2 is correct only when the wave function supports ψ1 and ψ2 essentially overlap. When these ones have separated supports we claim that canonical interpretation of the wave function ψ is no longer valid for a such cat state.Possible solution of the Schrodinger’s cat paradox is considered. We pointed out that the collapsed state of the cat always shows definite and predictable outcomes even if the cat also consists of a superposition:|cat>=с1|alive cat>+с2|death cat>.Using new quantum mechanical formalism the EPRB-paradox is considered.We find that the EPRB-paradox can be resolved by nonprincipal and convenient relaxing of the Einstein’s locality principle.
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.