Schrödinger’s Cat(Meow) !!

                                                Schrödinger’s Cat(Meow) !!

It is a thought experiment by Austrian Physicist Erwin Schrödinger; this experiment is an interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. It is principally based on Copenhagen interpretation.

Quantum Mechanics:
 It is a branch of mechanics that deals with behavior of atomic particles of high energy and low mass like an electron, proton etc. Tiny masses like electrons don’t obey newton’s laws, but we need some laws for them obey so that we know them better and can control them, these laws are found based on their behavior and belong to Quantum mechanics.
 For macroscopic objects, classical mechanical laws (Newton’s laws) are applied, these laws will not give results if applied on atomic particles in the same way, and we cannot apply Quantum mechanical laws on macroscopic objects.

Experiment:

             google's doodle on schrodinger's birthday!

Cat is placed in an isolated and sealed box such that we are unaware of anything happening inside it, there is also an unstable radioactive element that might disintegrate, if it does, this will be picked up by Geiger counter which in turn breaks flask of hydrocyanic acid via hammer. This possibility leads to death of cat; alternate outcome is the cat doesn't die as the radioactive element did not disintegrate. The probability of both the outcomes is 50% each.
Which state is the cat in? is it dead or alive?
By our common sense we know the cat can either be dead or alive but not both.  But sometimes common sense is not the answer, thinking is!

Here, Quantum mechanics says otherwise, it says the cat is in 2 states, both dead and alive as along as we don’t interfere in the experiment by checking it after an hour (or any specified time). This comes from the famous Schrödinger equation and Copenhagen interpretation.

Schrödinger equation expresses all the probabilities of possible states of the particle before it is verified; it basically gives us the idea as to what are the chances of finding certain particle in specific state at defined time.  It is hence called as probability wave equation as well.

Copenhagen interpretation:
It says what we have seen above, that probability of cat being dead or alive is remained in superposition (adding them up) until externally observed (takes one state after checking it).

In conclusion, atomic particles are in all possible states until measured, our action of measurement makes them chose a definite state. This experiment is even better understood with knowledge of Quantum entanglement (which will be shortly posted).

Note: Above said experiment is restricted to atomic domain, on macroscopic scale things turn to be definite. Cat is taken for simplicity and to make it easy for anyone to understand or perhaps he chose a cat because he lived with one, but in reality cat is an atomic particle (electron/photon) and box is usually their orbit,states are their spins.