COLUMNISTS
WHY SCHRÖDINGER’S CAT IS STILL THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL THOUGHT EXPERIMENT IN SCIENCE
COMMENT
Nearly a century after its formulation, the paradox remains hotly debated among researchers
O ne of the most important tools in the theoretical physicist’s kit is the thought experiment. If you study relativity, quantum mechanics or any area of physics applying to environments or situations in which you cannot (or should not) place yourself, you’ll find that you spend a lot more time working through imaginary scenarios than setting up instruments and taking measurements.
Thought experiments pose an imaginary question and work through a logical, ‘if/then’ sequence to explore what the theory really means. Asking “what has to happen if the theory is true?” is vital for developing intuition and anticipating new applications. In some cases, a thought experiment can reveal the deep philosophical implications of a theory or even present what appears to be an unsolvable paradox.