Theory of Superposition
The theory of superposition is a key concept at the heart of quantum theory and is related to the behavior of sub-atomic forces and particles.
Essentially the theory states that any object exists in all known states at the same time until it is looked at. Indeed it is the act of observation or measurement which brings about the collapse of the wave function associated with the object, which causes the object to assume one of the possibilities of its state of existence.
A theoretical demonstration has been given in the famous “Schrodinger’s cat” experiment. In this ‘thought’ experiment a cat is enclosed in a sealed box where an atomic event has an equal chance (50%) of either happening or not. If the event occurs then a poison is released and the cat dies, if it does not happen then the cat remains alive.
The fate of the cat will not be known until the box is opened and the wave function collapses, this means that until the box is opened, to an outside observer the cat is neither dead or alive but in a state of superposition.
A more practical demonstration was carried out in the 19th century by Thomas Young during experiments to solve the controversy of whether light was a particle or a wave. This experiment is now referred to as Young’s double-slit experiment.
The outcome of the experiment indicated that light could exist as either a particle or a wave, and when further experiments were carried out on individual light particles, amazingly, an individual particle apparently did the impossible by passing through both of the slits simultaneously.
This effect has been proven time after time by using other sub atomic particles such as the electron, when the theory of superposition became a fact. Each individual particle moves in a superposition of all possible trajectories through the slit, but when observed or measured, its wave function collapses and causes it to assume one single position.
Written by admin on August 27, 2011 under Miscellaneous.
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