Schrödinger's cat may be both alive and dead in the famous thought experiment concerning physics, but now Yale University researchers have come to an even more bizarre conclusion. The theoretical animal could also exist in two boxes at the same time, physicists have concluded.
Erwin Schrödinger was a physicist working in the early 20th century who became best known for the paradox that bears his name. The idea, first expressed in 1935, is that if large objects behaved the same way as subatomic particles, the world would be a bizarre place.
This is exemplified by the idea of a cat in a box, together with a poison vial triggered by a random event. The rules of quantum behavior would state that the animal was both alive and dead until the box was opened, revealing the condition of the feline. In terms of physics, measuring the result of a potential change is known as collapsing the wave function.
Yale physicists combined this famous thought experiment with another property of particle behavior - entanglement. This behavior, called "spooky action at a distance" by famed Physicist Albert Einstein, involves instantaneous changes in one particle driven by alterations to the condition of its partner.
In the case of the imaginary cat, the creature would both live and die within both boxes at once.
Researchers built two cavities capable of containing microwave energy, connecting the pair with an artificial superconducting atom. Microwave packets within the cavities played the part of the cat in the experiment.
Quantum computing promises a future where information may be processed significantly faster than possible today. This technology holds the promise of super fast, powerful computers that will dwarf the capabilities of today's fastest systems.
One of the main challenges in developing this advanced technology is correcting for errors without disturbing the original data. This new thought experiment may herald new theories to develop the futuristic processors.
"It turns out 'cat' states are a very effective approach to storing quantum information redundantly, for implementation of quantum error correction. Generating a cat in two boxes is the first step towards logical operation between two quantum bits in an error-correctible manner," Robert Schoelkopf, director of the Yale Quantum Institute, said.
This 81-year-old thought experiment could have a significant impact on the future of computing.
