Bringing Schrödinger's Cat to Life

James D. Stein

John R. Gribbin

Quantum theory is so shocking that Einstein could not bring himself to accept it. It is so important that it provides the fundamental underpinning of all modern sciences. Without it, we'd have no nuclear power or nuclear weapons, no TV, no computers, no science of molecular biology, no understanding of DNA, no genetic engineering. In Search of Schrodinger's Cat tells the complete story of quantum mechanics, a truth stranger than any fiction. John Gribbin takes us step by step into an ever more bizarre and fascinating place, requiring only that we approach it with an open mind. He introduces the scientists who developed quantum theory. He investigates the atom, radiation, time travel, the birth of the universe, superconductors and life itself. And in a world full of its own delights, mysteries and surprises, he searches for Schrodinger's Cat - a search for quantum reality - as he brings every reader to a clear understanding of the most important area of scientific study today - quantum physics. In Search of Schrodinger's Cat is a fascinating and delightful introduction to the strange world of the quantum - an essential element in understanding today's world.

Peter John Bussey

Thomas L. Wilson

It is pointed out that Schrödinger's celebrated "cat" paradox contains a simple error in reasoning regarding the definition of life. It is then shown that there is no paradox in the context of life as we currently understand it.

Arash Tirandaz, Hamid Reza Naeij, Afshin Shafiee

Abstract In this study, we have proposed a method based on non-equilibrium effects to generate the superposition of macroscopically distinguishable quantum states, known as Schrödinger cat states, by using a Mach–Zehnder interferometry type experiment. The interaction of the input number state with a Kerr medium in the presence of a couple of heat baths in different temperatures in the interaction picture and without imposing a Markov assumption is considered. We have shown that the study of dynamics of the cat states under non-equilibrium condition opens up a way for the robustness of quantum features against the destructive role of the environment, even at high temperature limits. It is verified that the mutual influence of the environments, far from equilibrium, on the open system, makes it possible to revive quantum beats for longer time intervals. Moreover, we have probed how the traits of the environment, like its temperature and the Ohmic, super-Ohmic or sub-Ohmic functionality of the spectral density, may affect the pattern of the oscillation between alive or dead states of the cat.

Anthony Horvath