Mehrfachzuständigkeiten

Mehrfachzustände, also known as multiple states or superposition states in physics, refer to the quantum mechanical phenomenon where a system can exist in a combination of several distinct states simultaneously. Unlike classical systems, which must be in one definite state at any given time, quantum systems can be described by a wave function that is a linear combination of these possible states. This means that before a measurement is made, the system does not possess a single, determined property, but rather a probability distribution over all the states in the superposition.

The concept of Mehrfachzustände is fundamental to quantum mechanics and is famously illustrated by thought experiments such as Schrödinger's cat. In this scenario, a cat is placed in a sealed box with a radioactive atom, a Geiger counter, a hammer, and a vial of poison. If the atom decays, it triggers the Geiger counter, which releases the hammer, smashing the vial and killing the cat. According to quantum mechanics, until the box is opened and observed, the atom is in a superposition of both decayed and undecayed states. Consequently, the cat is considered to be in a superposition of both alive and dead states.

The act of measurement or observation plays a crucial role in collapsing the superposition. When a measurement is performed, the quantum system is forced into one of the definite states that constituted the superposition, and the wave function "collapses" to that single outcome. The probabilities of collapsing into each specific state are determined by the coefficients of those states in the original superposition. This aspect of quantum mechanics, where observation influences the state of a system, is a departure from classical physics and has profound implications for our understanding of reality.