Schrödinger's cat

Definition

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.

Etymology

Named after Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger (1887–1961).

Example Sentences

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