quantum superposition
All possibilities coexisting
Quantum superposition is a principle in quantum mechanics where a particle exists in multiple states simultaneously until measured or observed.
A photon can be in two places at once; an electron can spin both up and down.
The famous thought experiment of Schrödinger's cat—simultaneously alive and dead—illustrates the concept.
Superposition underlies quantum computing, where qubits process multiple values at once rather than the binary ones and zeros of classical bits.
Lack of fixed outcome
- Schrödinger's catQuantum superposition thought experiment
- Copenhagen interpretationStandard quantum measurement theory
- observer effectWatching something changes it
- measurement problemWhy observation affects outcomes
complementarity · determinism · objective reality · thought experiment · Bohr · consciousness · ontology · epistemology
Quantum state's mathematical representation
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- collapseSudden structural failure
- measurementDetermining size or amount
Schrödinger · eigenstate · amplitude · observable · Heisenberg · duality · photon · electron
Quantum information unit
- entanglementState of being intertwined
- decoherenceLoss of quantum coherence
- error correctionFixing identified mistakes
- fault toleranceSystem continues despite failures
Correlations without spatial contact
- teleportationInstantaneous displacement across space
- EinsteinByword for genius
- hidden variablesUnobserved explanatory quantities
- singlet stateElectrons with opposite spins
indeterminacy
Lack of fixed outcome
- Schrödinger's catQuantum superposition thought experiment
- Copenhagen interpretationStandard quantum measurement theory
- observer effectWatching something changes it
measurement problem · complementarity · determinism · objective reality · thought experiment · Bohr · consciousness · ontology · epistemology · realism
wavefunction
Quantum state's mathematical representation
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- collapseSudden structural failure
measurement · Schrödinger · eigenstate · amplitude · observable · Heisenberg · duality · photon · electron
qubit
Quantum information unit
- entanglementState of being intertwined
- decoherenceLoss of quantum coherence
- error correctionFixing identified mistakes
nonlocality
Correlations without spatial contact
- teleportationInstantaneous displacement across space
- EinsteinByword for genius
- hidden variablesUnobserved explanatory quantities
- quantum physicswave function, Schrodinger equation, eigenvalue, Heisenberg, eigenstate
- multiverse conceptsparallel universe, parallel worlds, alternate dimension, alternate realities, pocket universes
- topological qubitsbraiding
quantum superpositionNewtonian mechanics
Theory of motion and force
classical physics · classical mechanics · clockwork universe · hidden variables
quantum, superposition, quanta, quantize, quantized, quantization, quantifiable, quantify, quantity