Schrödinger’s thought experiment – described by the quantum physicist himself as “bizarre” – entered popular science and pop culture some time ago and has been referenced countless times over the years.

However, the widespread assumption that two quantum states can exist simultaneously – that Schrödinger’s cat in a closed box exists in a superposition of states (both dead and alive) – arises from a misunderstanding of the nature of quantum states. The real issue lies in the relationship between the quantum state and the observer’s knowledge.

With this in mind, Anton Zeilinger will discuss how fundamental thought experiments relate to real-world experiments in quantum physics. His lecture bridges the early days of quantum mechanics with contemporary research, highlighting the central role of information in interpreting quantum physical states.

In celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Einstein Lectures Dahlem, Freie Universität Berlin and the Max Planck Society are offering guided tours and a film screening in addition to the lecture itself: Einstein Lectures.

About Einstein Lectures Dahlem

The Einstein Lectures Dahlem, hosted by Freie Universität Berlin since 2005 in partnership with several external institutions, are dedicated to the epochal work of Albert Einstein. Einstein was the director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Physics for almost two decades.

Since 2017, this first-rate-interdisciplinary colloquium is hosted in cooperation with the Max Planck Society, the successor of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society.

The lectures are held in Dahlem, a district in Berlin known for its tradition as a center of scientific research. They address a broad academic audience and cover various scientific disciplines influenced by Einstein’s thinking.

Einstein Lectures Dahlem