Schrödinger’s Cat and the Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

Jeffrey Bub

Frank S. Levin

Abstract Chapter 15 deals with various unresolved issues, such as how measurements are to be described, whether they induce collapse of linear superpositions, and if so, what the result should be. Another is whether quantum mechanics applies to macroscopic measuring devices, and if not, why not. Some of these issues are addressed via the Schrödinger cat-in-the-box experiment, in particular whether the cat is ever half alive and half dead; analogs of the corresponding Schrödinger-cat state (not involving a cat) have been studied experimentally. For Schrödinger, it was ridiculous to apply quantum mechanics to macroscopic situations, nevertheless, it has been explored by many physicists. Whether measurements induce collapse and whether collapse arises in various formulations/interpretations of quantum mechanics is examined in the context of generic measuring instruments known as pointer devices. Various conclusions have been reached, though consensus has not, despite only one interpretation having been verified experimentally.

J Foukzon, A A Potapov, S A Podosenov

In his famous thought experiment, Schrôdinger (1935) imagined a cat that measures the value of a quantum mechanical observable with its life.Since Schrödinger's time, no any interpretations or modifications of quantum mechanics have been proposed which give clear unambiguous answers to the questions posed by Schrödinger's cat of how long superpositions last and when (or whether) they collapse?In this paper appropriate modification of quantum mechanics is proposed.We claim that canonical interpretation of the wave function 1 2 cat live cat death cat c c = +.

Fritz Rohrlich

John R. Gribbin

Jaykov Foukzon, Alex Potapov, Менькова Елена Романовна +1 more

In his famous thought experiment, Schrôdinger (1935) imagined a cat that measures the value of a quantum mechanical observable with its life.Since Schrödinger's time, no any interpretations or modifications of quantum mechanics have been proposed which give clear unambiguous answers to the questions posed by Schrödinger's cat of how long superpositions last and when (or whether) they collapse?In this paper appropriate modification of quantum mechanics is proposed.We claim that canonical interpretation of the wave function 1 2 cat live cat death cat c c = +.