Abstract
In this paper we re-investigate the core of Schrodinger's "cat paradox". We argue that one has to distinguish clearly between superpositions of macroscopic cat states and superpositions of entangled states which comprise both the state of the cat (alive, dead) and the radioactive substance (up arrow=not decayed, down arrow=decayed). It is shown, that in the case of the cat experiment recourse to ...
Abstract
In this paper we re-investigate the core of Schrodinger's "cat paradox". We argue that one has to distinguish clearly between superpositions of macroscopic cat states and superpositions of entangled states which comprise both the state of the cat (alive, dead) and the radioactive substance (up arrow=not decayed, down arrow=decayed). It is shown, that in the case of the cat experiment recourse to decoherence or other mechanisms is not necessary in order to explain the absence of macroscopic superpositions. Additionally, we present modified versions of two quantum optical experiments as experimenta crucis. Applied rigorously, quantum mechanical formalism reduces the problem to a mere pseudo-paradox.
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