Detecting Quantum Phenomena

How do you detect the effects of quantum mechanics? Start with a metric ton of aluminum and make it very cold...

Just what are the effects of quantum mechanics?, you ask and it's an interesting question. To discuss it we have to rouse Schrodinger's Cat, a thought experiment that has a cat in a sealed box with some uranium. Uranium decays and releases deadly radiation. Once the radiation is detected a vial of poison is smashed inside the box releasing a gas and killing the cat. However, the cat can be said to be alive and dead at the same time until we open the box to see if the uranium has decayed or not. 

It is an experiment designed to show that we cannot know the out come of a random event without making an observation, and therefore the determination  of the outcome is dependent on it being observed. Were you around to hear that tree fall? This is called the Copenhagen Interpretation. Even Einstein had a lot of trouble with this. Either the cat is dead, or the cat is still alive, it can't be both at once right? 

Many in the world believe the way to observe matter existing in two places or states at the same time is to catch it in the act. In order to do this one needs to make matter so cold that the vibration of its sub atomic particles nearly stops, slowing it down so that one can see it in both states at the same time. Some researchers in Podova, Italy (A bit South and West of Venice) have cooled that block of aluminum alloy (weighing a metric ton) to within a few millionths of a degree of absolute zero. They are trying to detect waves of gravity from far off cosmic events, such as the collision of two of black holes. Because the aluminum rings like a bell at the slightest touch, it is thought that the vibration from a quantum event, like the decay of an isotope, could be detected as it evolves from one state to another. If this proves out, it could help us better understand the arena of the very small and it's relationship to the arena of the very large--the one in which we live. 

Here's the article if you want to get into the technicalities of it. Even though you are much warmer, it might make your head ring trying to think about it.