The Beginning
The
superposition principle in quantum theory states that if a system is observed
to be in one of several states, then it could exist in a combination of states
at one given time. The Schrodinger cat experiment illustrates this principle.
In
this experiment ,the cat is placed in a sealed box along with a radioactive
substance, some poison and a Geiger counter.
Once the radioactive substance has decayed, the counter detects it and
unleashes the poison in the box which eventually kills the cat. But the beauty
of this thought experiment lies in the radioactive substance. Since the decay
is a random process, it is not possible to predict the process and hence the
actual state of the cat. If we analyse this experiment, we realize that before
we observe the cat, the cat can be in two different states both dead and alive
at one given instant of time. It is only after the observation that we conclude
with one of the states.
This
is a great experiment that allows us to incorporate the quantum theory for
large objects such as the cat and the observer in this experiment lies outside
the system (box).If the observer lies inside the system under scrutiny, the
integrity of the experiment is automatically destroyed. From my understanding
about system and observer, my being inside the system will bring in extra
variables which in turn will affect the original experiment to start with.
Although
this experiment enables us to think about macroscopic objects in terms of
quantum states, if the system is the entire universe (Which we are a part of)
becomes a problem since we are inside the system.
Several
years of mind bending experiments from great minds and classical logic suggests
that observer must be outside the system under study to keep it consistent and
not ruin the integrity of the original system. Since we do not know what is
outside the observable universe (for now) i.e. beyond 13.5 billion years of the
universe or in other words- The Big Bang, logic dictates that we need a model
that allows for the observer to be outside the system and yet inside.
The
model from my amateur understanding on the subject should look something like
in the figure below.
This model suggests that quantum fluctuations in a black hole could
result in a separate cone that is outside the realms of the present universe
(maybe another dimension) and yet originating from the same universe. This way
we, as observers ,are outside. The objective of this model is to understand the
mechanism of the universe before the big bang in terms of quantum states by
observing black holes. Although studying the black hole for such clues is a
task that is unimaginably difficult. Perhaps the universe that we live in
resulted from one such quantum fluctuation inside a black hole. We would never
know.
I
would also like to emphasize that the above fig does not denote a geometrical
model of the universe but built on conjecture.References - Three Roads to quantum gravity- Lee Smolin
Krish Ramkumar
