A few time ago, I read in L'Oasi, the satirist press of my Faculty in Computer Science (FIB, Facultat d'Informàtica de Barcelona -UPC-) a hilarious comic strip by the always great Dr.Palindrom by El Pitiflí about the well-known paradox of Schrödinger's Cat.
For those who don't know this paradox, a simple basis for understanding the quantum mechanics, it is a thought experiment devised by Erwin Schrödinger with the aim of attempting to one of the most strange properties of the quantum mechanics.
So, as a little brief of the Schrödinger's Cat paradox, let be a closed and opaque box as the system, containing inside it:
Hence, if the device is enabled (that means, the desintegration probability converges to the desintegration), the cat dies. As you can notice, the entire system is single-atom-depending, and at the same time, this particle is quantum-mechanics-depending; therefore, all the system is quantum-mechanics-depending.
Because of that, and following the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics for applications beyond just atomic or subatomic systems, as long as we don't open the box, the cat will be in a quantum state: it's alive and dead at the same time. When the box is open, the only cat visualization action will modify its quantum state and it will converge to one of the two possible: alive or dead. This is possible by the physic propertie called quantum superposition.
Well, then, after this explanation, this is the amazing and hilarious gag by Dr.Palindrom; just enjoy it!!! XD (for a better visualization, click on the image):
I'm a fanatic of quantum physics, but this comic strip is, in my opinion, absolutely great.
So stay tuned, poor mortals!! Your quantum states will be maintained as long as Ignis Lacrima will be in your lives (or not, but I have to make use of an agressive marketing for incrementing the disciples of the Ancient Flames of Greek God of Metal and Fire, Hefestus :P Oh my god, I'm turning a little bit of crazy XD).
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Newtonian Destiny of a Quantum Cat
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7 comments:
o_O
Waw, that was a surprising way to come back to the blog... Last time i came in i found posts about concerts and films!
I'm sorry to say that i hadn't been introduced to Schrödinger before, and i don't get how (and why) the cat is alive and dead at the same time...
I'm afraid i don't have a quantum-mechanics-depending mentality ;)
Cheers !
oh, hidka, are you newtonian then? what a pity! being quantum is better!! XD
Well, the paradox occurs in a matter of time: because of the radiactive particle has a 50% of desintegration probability, when time tends to infinity, there is a probability of 50% for alive cat, and 50% also for a dead cat.
So, the cat is alive and dead at the same time, 'cause the probability is the same. It's not technically true, but in a quantum mood, it's accepted :P
It's based on quantum spin of an electron (or qubit in quantum computation); in the real world, its spin has only two orientations, but in a quantum state, it's like a sphere. You can notice that here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qubit
It's a little geek (and complicated, since it cannot be explained in a single post of a poor blog like mine :P) world, but the quantum physics are ideal for building paranoias when you are boring XD
Hey!!!
That's a good beginning for the new year!! However, as a geek that I am ( ^^ ) I have to inform you that this paradox is not true anymore. I will explain it:
First of all, you prepare the box, with the gas, the device to break the bottle and the radioactive particle. Then, instead of using a cat (by the way hidka, if you had watched Stargate, you would have been introduced to Schrödinger :P) you use Chuck Norris. When you close the box, Chuck stared at the particle and this one is too scared to desintegrate, so it becomes a stable particle. Then, he breaks the box, and if I were you, I won't be there at that moment (as you have put him inside a box).
I'll keep an eye on your blog :D
Salut!
Hey nuser !!
I liked your explanation more, it was easier to understand, and i knew Chuck Norris from before...
Salut!
i don´t understand anything...:S ...so, shall you explain me this paranoia another day in a beautiful bar?? With beer, of course...jejeje :P
oh, sure, Aida!! with beer the quantum physics are easier... the difraction effect is better seen when you are able to make use of double vision XD
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