Schrodinger’s
Cat Experiment
The cat is either alive or dead and the only way we can find
out if it is dead or not is by opening the box. It is how we observe in our daily
life as following classical physics. As things get weird in quantum mechanics,
it simply doesn’t follow this one state rule. As I mentioned before in quantum
tunneling part, a particle can behave as both wave and particle but stays at fixed
(one state) when observed this is called superposition. We can’t describe the position nor velocity at the same of a particle this is very famous and
common term called HEISENBERG UNCERTAINITY PRINCIPLE. Also, if there is a non-zero
probability of the state of the particle when not observed we can’t neglect in
quantum mechanics. Similarly, the cat which is inside a box has equal probability
of being alive or dead but that probability is changed when it is observed so
before observing it is half alive and half dead or both alive and dead just
like the superposition of the particle inside a box. But right after we open the box the
wave function collapses, the superposition state changes and gives the final
result.
Hence, the cat is both alive and dead when it is not observed and is in a superposition state just like the particle we discussed in quantum tunneling. This thought experiment had a huge breakdown in all physics core. Not only it described and connected the wave duality but also gave some theories and ideas about parallel universe.
PARALLEL
UNIVERSE
We all have heard lots of theories about parallel universe
and they all are somehow related to this Schrodinger experiment. Since, quantum
mechanics is all about probabilities we can’t neglect any weird possibilities
that doesn’t occur in our daily life. Hence, if there is some non-zero
probability then it does occur but nit in our universe but it can occur in other
universe. It means that in the Schrodinger experiment if the cat is alive when
we open the box then it creates an alternating universe where the cat wasn’t
alive. This is called a multiverse theory where every choice you made from the beginning has an effect.
For example, let’s say you had to choose a mobile or a
laptop for your Christmas present and you choose a laptop then there creates a
certain possibility in fact it creates another universe where you choose mobile.
So, every choice or decision you make create another universe where you had
actually pick the other decision.
Similarly, in the cat experiment when before opening the box
the cat was in super position and was neither dead nor alive but right after we
observe it the wave function collapsed and form a single state which could be dead
or alive. Let’s say the cat was alive when we observe so according to the previous
theory there exists a alternate universe where the cat was dead. In short, in
our universe the cat was alive but in another universe the cat was dead.
These realities don’t mix with each other and the effect of
the one doesn’t affect other it is just the other duplicate version but with
different choice hence those universes exist in infinite amount but it is just
a theory and it is not proved yet.
