Lost Schrödinger manuscript reveals his true view of quantum randomness
A newly discovered manuscript by Erwin Schrödinger offers fresh insights into his historical views on quantum randomness and hidden-variable theories. The analysis suggests his perspective was more nuanced than previously understood by the scientific community.
Why it matters
This discovery helps clarify the foundational debates of quantum mechanics, potentially shifting how historians and physicists interpret the development of the field.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add to Preferred Sources Credit: Image generated by the editorial team using AI for illustrative purposes. Unlike classical physics, quantum mechanics generally cannot tell us exactly what will happen in an individual event. Instead, it predicts the probabilities of different outcomes. As one of the theory's early pioneers, Erwin Schrödinger played a key role in debates about what this randomness really means. However, part of his contribution has stayed hidden for more than 80 years.
In a new study posted on the arXiv preprint server, Flavio Del Santo at the University of Geneva has analyzed an unpublished manuscript by Schrödinger, shedding new light on his thinking.
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