Schrödinger's cat

plural Schrödinger's cats · alternative Schrödinger cat · alternative Schrodinger's cat · alternative Schrodinger cat · alternative Schroedinger's cat · alternative Schroedinger cat

1. A hypothetical cat that is depicted as being surrounded by perfectly uncertain circumstances that make an external observer absolutely unable to deem the cat either alive or dead, especially if the possibilities of survival of the cat are expected to be analysed from the point of view of quantum mechanics. Typically, these circumstances involve the cat being inside a box while being the victim of a danger that may or may not kill it, such as radiation.

   A cat like yours is a Schrödinger's cat, sealed up in an office where someone's disintegration provides a 50-50 chance of its death.

   2000, Thalia Field, Point and line, New Directions Publishing, →ISBN, page 8

2. broadlyAny hypothetical situation whose circumstances make it impossible to see which among two contrary propositions is correct, especially if the situation is expected to be analysed from the point of view of quantum mechanics.

   To see how, let us consider a nested system of Schrödinger's cats.

   2004, Colin Bruce, Schrödinger's Rabbits: The Many Worlds of Quantum, page 83

alternative Schrödinger cat · alternative Schrodinger's cat · alternative Schrodinger cat · alternative Schroedinger's cat · alternative Schroedinger cat

1. The thought experiment which was devised by Erwin Schrödinger, is usually considered a paradox, involves a Schrödinger's cat and is typically supposed to be analysed from the point of view of quantum mechanics.
2. A Schrödinger's cat (a hypothetical cat that may or may not be dead) in particular, especially when implied to be the only Schrödinger's cat in the world.

   Schrödinger's cat is necessarily alive or dead.

   2005, Jürgen Pafel, Quantifier scope in German, illustrated edition, John Benjamins Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 21

   2 more examples

   And you thought Schrödinger's cat was schizophrenic, unsure about life and death.

   2009, João Magueijo, A brilliant darkness, Basic Books, →ISBN, page 179

   Let us return to the laboratory, where Bob is about to lift the tarp off of the transparent box containing Schrödinger's cat.

   2010, Rodrigo Enrico, The Physics of Stargates, Eridanus Press, →ISBN, page 80