Certain interpretations of quantum theory ,when applied to Schrodingers experiment,make seemingly bizarre and counter intuititive predictions such as a cat being in a mixed state of, to put it crudely, being both alive and dead at the same time.
It was Schrodingers intention to point out that such states are nonsensical and that at any particular time the cat will either be alive or dying or dead.In other words general knowledge and common sense must prevail when interpreting quantum theory.
Grand though Schrodingers intention was his experiment fails to provide proof of either his preferred common sense interpretation or the la la land lets dance with the fairies views given by interpretations such as Copenhagen or Many Worlds.
Why's that you ask and well you might.The answer,quite simply,is that Schrodingers experiment is designed in such a way that the observations necessary to back up any interpretation can't be made during the crucial and relevant time that the contents of the box are isolated from the surroundings.
I know what's coming next. Many will say "it's a thought experiment so it doesn't matter if some observations are disallowed".Well it does matter because to be given any credence at all a theory or any interpretation of a theory must be verifiable,even if just in principle,by observations.No possible observations equates to no possible proof which equates "it can't be physics so it must be something like metaphysics".
The experimental design is such that observations are eventually allowed for example by opening the box and taking a peek inside.All interpretations then predict that what will be observed is the outcome predicted by common sense (but the loopy interpretationists still insist that strange things were going on before we looked)
I would like to finish this little section by stating that it is time to put more common sense back into physics.Next,when I get round to it and if I can be bothered I will describe a few ways of putting macroscopic objects(as big as you like) into a superposition of states and show that such superpositions conform to the laws of common sense.But then I might be kidding.
Sunday, 22 April 2012
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