The quantum world is not as discrete as we thought and therefore it is possible to save Schrödinger's cat

Is the struggle between the greats of quantum physics, Bohr and Schrödinger, finally coming to a solution? Researchers from Yale University recently published in the famous journal Nature an article indicating that a quantum jump is actually continuous as Schrödinger claimed and not momentary as Bohr thought

Atomic systems in nature hide discrete phenomena originating from quantum theory. A famous example of this comes from the spectrum of light emitted from hot bodies. Excited atoms, or in other words atoms that have absorbed energy, emit randomly and in short times the energy they absorbed back into the environment. That energy is emitted in discrete doses corresponding to the discrete energy levels of each atom. For years physicists around the world have tried to answer the question of whether it is possible to predict when an atom will emit the energy back? Is it possible to identify preliminary signs that will testify towards her release? At the beginning of the 20th century, physicists were divided into two camps - those who sided with Bohr on the claim that the energy transition occurs instantaneously, hence the name "quantum jump" (between different levels of energy),

Or with the concept of Schrödinger, who claimed that it is a continuous and coherent transition. Over the years, support for Schrödinger's concept grew and received theoretical reinforcement through the "quantum track theory". The mathematical problem is similar to the classical problem of tsunami predictions. On the one hand, it is difficult to predict

Over time when the next tsunami will hit the coast, but there are early signs that may indicate if and when the tsunami will occur. Alongside mathematical developments, very few experiments were conducted to measure a quantum jump in the laboratory. The first time a quantum transition between energy levels in an atom was observed in the laboratory was in 1986, but unfortunately the measurement systems were not sensitive enough to answer the question of whether it was a momentary jump or a continuous transition.

Now that sensitive technologies are at our disposal, researchers at Yale University decided to try to answer these fundamental questions. Using a superconductor they assembled a system that simulates an atom with three different energy levels. Under this experimental system, the researchers were able to show a continuous and coherent transition between energy levels and strengthen the quantum track theory. In addition, under electrical pulses the researchers were able to stop the process before it was completed and return the dummy atom to the excited state.

mock atom

For the curious reader, the following is the measurement method in general terms: the simulated atom contains three energy levels. These levels were called G [from the English word ground (basic level)], D [from the English word darkness], and level B [from the English word bright as well]. The bright level is so called due to the fact that when the transition from it to the ground state will emit a photon (particle of light) that can be measured. A dark state is referred to as such because it cannot be detected directly by the emission of light. When the system lights up, the researchers know that there is a transition between B and G. The uniqueness of this experiment comes from the fact that the experimenters can now measure individual photons (indirectly) that are emitted from the dummy atom. During the transition, the system "informs", so to speak, of a transition by dimming the lighting intensity. As soon as no photons were observed, the system completed the transition to the dark state.

According to the Mail researchers, "Quantum jumps do appear to be random and discrete over time, but the fact that such a jump can be fixed means that its temporal development is characterized, in some way, by deterministic laws. The jump always happens in the same way, in the same pattern." The researchers add that "the experimental result will serve as a basis for technological methods that can control quantum systems and correct errors in quantum computers on the fly." Unintended quantum jumps can indicate calculation errors. If researchers can detect such jumps while alive

Again, you will open another way to build multi-qubit quantum computers.

For the scientific article in Nature:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1287-z

• More of the topic in Hayadan:
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• The standard model and beyond - everything you need to know
• A quantum threat to special relativity