Researchers from the University of Hiroshima and the University of Bristol have published their findings in the New Journal of Physics, refuting a popular idea in quantum physics known as the quantum Cheshire cat effect. This effect, inspired by the disappearing cat in “Alice in Wonderland”, was previously believed to be the ability of quantum particles to separate from their properties.
In a study conducted in 2013, scientists argued that particles could indeed separate from their properties. However, the recent study conducted by the University of Hiroshima and the University of Bristol reveals that this phenomenon is actually a different aspect of quantum mechanics called contextuality. In quantum mechanics, the behavior of light and matter at the atomic and subatomic level varies depending on the ongoing measurements.
“Quantum mechanics is a strange field, and we are still actively studying what exactly causes these peculiarities,” says Yontte Hans, a researcher from the University of Hiroshima and the University of Bristol.
The research team focused on analyzing the Cheshire cat protocol and examined the relationship between three different measurements of the path and polarization of photons. Their findings showed that instead of the properties separating from the particle, the Cheshire cat effect demonstrates the coherence between prohibited states.
Looking ahead, the scientists plan to further expand their research to explore how contextuality explains other paradoxical quantum effects and its impact on measurements in quantum systems.
“This will not only help us to explain the unconventional nature of quantum mechanics but also enable us to develop practical applications, such as in the field of quantum computing,” concludes Hans.