Physicists have achieved a groundbreaking breakthrough by creating a “Schrödinger’s cat” state at temperatures above absolute zero. The phenomenon, known as superposition, allows particles to exist in two states simultaneously, challenging conventional wisdom about the role of temperature in quantum mechanics.
Researchers at the University of Innsbruck used electromagnetic resonators to create Schrödinger cat states at 1.8 Kelvin, significantly warmer than typical experiments require. The discovery has far-reaching implications for the development of quantum computers, which rely on superposition to operate. By overcoming the need for expensive cooling experiments, this finding could revolutionize technology and make quantum computing more accessible.
The concept of Schrödinger’s cat was first introduced by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger as a thought experiment illustrating the strange principles of quantum mechanics. While previous studies have created real-life Schrödinger cat particles at very low temperatures, this new study successfully generates these states at warmer temperatures.
The implications of this breakthrough are significant, as it could enable the creation of more efficient and cost-effective quantum computing systems. According to Prof Gerhard Kirchmair, “the temperature ultimately doesn’t matter” if the necessary interactions can be created in a system, opening up new possibilities for quantum research and applications.
Source: https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/hot-schrodinger-cat-quantum-physics