Schrödinger's intention was that his cat analogy serve as a criticism of the notion of a particle being in a superposition of states. Once again the supporters of the Copenhagen interpretation hi-jacked the criticism and used it to support the notion. The theory underlying quantum computers is this unsound notion. Superposition is a quality unique to waves, for example several vibrations overlapping each other and causing an interference pattern. So it is not surprising that after several decades quantum cats and quantum computers remain chimeras.

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Einstein’s criticism of the Copenhagen interpretation, detailed in a 1935 paper he co-authored with Podolsky and Rosen and commonly referred to as the EPR paper included a thought experiment which involved the position and momentum of two particles and how these quantities could be determined. His thought experiment morphed into one involving 'spin' and a theory of entangled particles that could communicate faster than the speed of light, and this along with experiments conducted with photons and orientation, were used to support the idea of 'spooky action at a distance' which Einstein repudiated and which can be shown to be unfounded.

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Atomic spectra was used to support the idea that electrons can jump between energy levels or ‘stationary states’ in the atom. Schrödinger rejected this and thought a more natural explanation was to view the electron as a standing wave changing frequencies. The notion of the ‘spin’ of an electron was an example of mathematical expediency at work, rather than anything physically real.

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Heisenberg and Schrödinger had competing theories about the atomic model: Heisenberg took a discontinuous particle approach and his rival Schrödinger, a continuous wave approach. Heisenberg prevailed by hi-jacking Schrödinger's wave equation which had been intended to describe real phenomena, and along with Max Born, turned it into a probability calculator for the whereabouts of a particle. This led to a certain amount of confusion and the so-called 'particle-wave duality’.

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An account of Einstein's interpretation of the photo-electric effect involving discrete photons. His analysis had ontological consequences, namely the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, which he later criticised as an incomplete and self contradictory theory.

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The first of six podcasts in the search of the true identity of the quantum: is it a particle or a wave or both; or a mathematical entity which has some utility in solving equations. The remaining podcasts in this series are:

2. Einstein's Other Blunder – the photo-electric effect misinterpretation

3. Heisenberg, the Salieri of Physics – how Heisenberg sabotaged his rival Schrödinger

4. Quantum Circus: Jumps and Spins – questions the Bohr model of the atom

5. Magic Particles – examines the concept of entanglement or 'spooky action at a distance'

6. The Quantum Cat meets the Quantum Computer – how both are chimeras

More detailed analysis, booklists, additional material and scientific papers can be found at www.quantumid.science

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