In 1935, the physicist Erwin Schrödinger introduced a thought experiment about a cat. This cat could be alive or dead until someone looks at it. This idea showed a big problem in quantum mechanics.
Even today, we still think about this problem. Some physicists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona believe they have found an answer. They propose that every possible state of a quantum system happens in its own universe. This idea is called the many-worlds theory.
Researchers Philipp Strasberg, Teresa E. Reinhard, and Joseph Schindler use this theory to explain why Schrödinger’s cat seems to be either alive or dead when we observe it. They say that the cat cannot be in both states at once because of many interactions with its surroundings.
In a complicated universe, as things happen over time, we only see one clear state. The many possibilities quickly lead to one reality.
In conclusion, Schrödinger’s cat is still a mystery in physics. This research was published in Physical Review X.
Vocabulary List:
- Quantum /ˈkwɒn.təm/ (adjective): Relating to the smallest amount of a physical quantity that can exist independently.
- Mechanics /məˈkæn.ɪks/ (noun): The branch of physics dealing with the motion of objects and the forces that affect them.
- Interactions /ˌɪn.təˈræk.ʃənz/ (noun): The actions or influence of two or more entities upon one another.
- Possibilities /ˌpɒs.əˈbɪl.ɪ.tiz/ (noun): Things that may happen or be the case; potential outcomes.
- Reality /rɪˈæl.ɪ.ti/ (noun): The state of things as they actually exist rather than as they may appear.
- Experiment /ɪkˈspɛr.ɪ.mənt/ (noun): A scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery or test a hypothesis.
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