Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

From the Heisenberg Picture to Bohm: a New Perspective on Active Information and its relation to Shannon Information.

Basil J. Hiley

Published Jan 1, 2002• 35 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

In this paper we discuss some of the background to the notion of active information introduced by Bohm and Hiley to account for quantum processes. To appreciate the full significance of this new notion, we show why it is essential to distinguish our approach from the approach that goes under the name 'Bohmian mechanics'. We then show for the first time how the quantum potential emerges from the Heisenberg picture thus providing a new perspective to the whole approach. This enables us to clarify the role of the energy associated with the quantum potential and the status of active information. We conclude with some remarks on the relation between active information and Shannon information. 1. Introduction. I would like to take this opportunity to explain my attitude to Bohm's approach to quantum theory. The reactions to the proposals over the years have always puzzled me. Those who find it unacceptable nearly always become rather passionate and use arguments that I find far from compelling. Equally some supporters of the approach, no

Related papers

Quantum Theory, Active Information and the Mind-Matter Problem

Paavo Pylkkänen

Bohm and Hiley suggest that a certain new type of active information plays a key objective role in quantum processes.This paper discusses the implications of this suggestion to our understanding of the relation between the mental and the physical aspects of reality.

Advanced series on mathematical psychology•Nov 24, 2015•9 citations

Bohm’s approach to quantum mechanics: Alternative theory or practical picture?

Ángel S. Sanz

Since its inception Bohmian mechanics has been generally regarded as a hidden-variable theory aimed at providing an objective description of quantum phenomena. To date, this rather narrow conception of Bohm’s proposal has caused it more rejection than acceptance. Now, after 65 years of Bohmian mechanics, should still be such an interpretational aspect the prevailing appraisal? Why not favoring a more pragmatic view, as a legitimate picture of quantum mechanics, on equal footing in all respects with any other more conventional quantum picture? These questions are used here to introduce a discussion on an alternative way to deal with Bohmian mechanics at present, enhancing its aspect as an efficient and useful picture or formulation to tackle, explore, describe and explain quantum phenomena where phase and correlation ( entanglement ) are key elements. This discussion is presented through two complementary blocks. The first block is aimed at briefly revisiting the historical context that gave rise to the appearance of Bohmian mechanics, and how this approach or analogous ones have been used in different physical contexts. This discussion is used to emphasize a more pragmatic view to the detriment of the more conventional hidden-variable (ontological) approach that has been a leitmotif within the quantum foundations. The second block focuses on some particular formal aspects of Bohmian mechanics supporting the view presented here, with special emphasis on the physical meaning of the local phase field and the associated velocity field encoded within the wave function. As an illustration, a simple model of Young’s two-slit experiment is considered. The simplicity of this model allows to understand in an easy manner how the information conveyed by the Bohmian formulation relates to other more conventional concepts in quantum mechanics. This sort of pedagogical application is also aimed at showing the potential interest to introduce Bohmian mechanics in undergraduate quantum mechanics courses as a working tool rather than merely an alternative interpretation.

arXiv:1707.00609•Frontiers of Physics•Oct 2, 2018•45 citations

Bohmian Mechanics and Quantum Information ∗

Sheldon Goldstein

Many recent results suggest that quantum theory is about information, and that quantum theory is best understood as arising from principles concerning information and information processing. At the same time, by far the simplest version of quantum mechanics, Bohmian mechanics, is concerned, not with information but with the behavior of an objective microscopic reality given by particles and their positions. What I would like to do here is to examine whether, and to what extent, the importance of information, observation, and the like in quantum theory can be understood from a Bohmian perspective. I would like to explore the hypothesis that the idea that information plays a special role in physics naturally emerges in a Bohmian universe. 1 Introduction: The Status

•Jan 1, 2007•12 citations

Bohmian Non-commutative Dynamics: History and New Developments

Basil J. Hiley

The reality of Bohm's intellectual journey is very different from what is often claimed by the proponents of "Bohmian Mechanics" and others as we will explain in this paper. He did not believe a mechanical explanation of quantum phenomena was possible. Central to his thinking, and incidentally to Bohr's also, was the notion of 'unbroken wholeness', a notion that is crucial for understanding quantum properties like quantum nonlocality. His proposals were based on a primitive notion of `process' or `activity', producing a more 'organic' approach to quantum phenomena. He published many papers outlining these new ideas, some plausible, some less so, but was not able to develop a coherent mathematical structure to support the work. Over the last ten years much of that missing mathematics has been put in place. This paper will report this new work, concentrating on providing a coherent overview of the whole programme.

arXiv:1303.6057•Mar 25, 2013•6 citations

Can Quantum Mechanics Solve the Hard Problem of Consciousness?

Basil J. Hiley, Paavo Pylkkänen

Abstract The paper proposes that quantum theory implies a radically new notion of matter which has not been properly understood before David Bohm’s groundbreaking work. Bohm proposed that the fundamental particles of physics (such as electrons) are not merely pushed around mechanically by classical forces but are also able to respond to information. Information is thus assumed to be an objective commodity which can exist independently of the human mind and which actively guides or instructs physical processes. This notion of active information also applies in computational, biological and psychological phenomena, thus helping us to understand how the mental and the physical sides of reality are related. It may even help us to understand the nature of conscious experience. The latter part of the paper considers the deeper mathematical and physical background of quantum theory and suggests that we need to revise our basic assumptions about quantum objects, such as the role of the wave function.

Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja•Jul 18, 2022•1 citation

A Quasi-Newtonian Approach to Bohmian Mechanics I: Quantum Potential

Mahdi Atiq, Mozafar Karamian, Mehdi Golshani

In this article, we investigate Bohm's view of quantum theory, especially Bohm's quantum potential, from a new perspective. We develop a quasi-Newtonian approach to Bohmian mechanics. We show that to arrive at Bohmian formulation of quantum mechanics, there is no necessity to start from the Schrödinger equation. We also obtain an equation that restricts the possible forms of quantum potential and determines the functional form of it without appealing to the wave function and the Schrödinger equation. Finally, we discuss about the significance of quantum potential in the conceptual structure of quantum theory.

arXiv:1311.6497•Annales de la fondation Louis de Broglie/Annales de la Fondation Louis de Broglie•Nov 22, 2013•7 citations
In this paper we discuss some of the background to the notion of active information introduced by Bohm and Hiley to account for quantum processes. To appreciate the full significance of this new notion, we show why it is essential to distinguish our approach from the approach that goes under the name 'Bohmian mechanics'. We then show for the first time how the quantum potential emerges from the Heisenberg picture thus providing a new perspective to the whole approach. This enables us to clarify the role of the energy associated with the quantum potential and the status of active information. We conclude with some remarks on the relation between active information and Shannon information. 1. Introduction. I would like to take this opportunity to explain my attitude to Bohm's approach to quantum theory. The reactions to the proposals over the years have always puzzled me. Those who find it unacceptable nearly always become rather passionate and use arguments that I find far from compelling. Equally some supporters of the approach, no
Since its inception Bohmian mechanics has been generally regarded as a hidden-variable theory aimed at providing an objective description of quantum phenomena. To date, this rather narrow conception of Bohm’s proposal has caused it more rejection than acceptance. Now, after 65 years of Bohmian mechanics, should still be such an interpretational aspect the prevailing appraisal? Why not favoring a more pragmatic view, as a legitimate picture of quantum mechanics, on equal footing in all respects with any other more conventional quantum picture? These questions are used here to introduce a discussion on an alternative way to deal with Bohmian mechanics at present, enhancing its aspect as an efficient and useful picture or formulation to tackle, explore, describe and explain quantum phenomena where phase and correlation ( entanglement ) are key elements. This discussion is presented through two complementary blocks. The first block is aimed at briefly revisiting the historical context that gave rise to the appearance of Bohmian mechanics, and how this approach or analogous ones have been used in different physical contexts. This discussion is used to emphasize a more pragmatic view to the detriment of the more conventional hidden-variable (ontological) approach that has been a leitmotif within the quantum foundations. The second block focuses on some particular formal aspects of Bohmian mechanics supporting the view presented here, with special emphasis on the physical meaning of the local phase field and the associated velocity field encoded within the wave function. As an illustration, a simple model of Young’s two-slit experiment is considered. The simplicity of this model allows to understand in an easy manner how the information conveyed by the Bohmian formulation relates to other more conventional concepts in quantum mechanics. This sort of pedagogical application is also aimed at showing the potential interest to introduce Bohmian mechanics in undergraduate quantum mechanics courses as a working tool rather than merely an alternative interpretation.
Many recent results suggest that quantum theory is about information, and that quantum theory is best understood as arising from principles concerning information and information processing. At the same time, by far the simplest version of quantum mechanics, Bohmian mechanics, is concerned, not with information but with the behavior of an objective microscopic reality given by particles and their positions. What I would like to do here is to examine whether, and to what extent, the importance of information, observation, and the like in quantum theory can be understood from a Bohmian perspective. I would like to explore the hypothesis that the idea that information plays a special role in physics naturally emerges in a Bohmian universe. 1 Introduction: The Status
The reality of Bohm's intellectual journey is very different from what is often claimed by the proponents of "Bohmian Mechanics" and others as we will explain in this paper. He did not believe a mechanical explanation of quantum phenomena was possible. Central to his thinking, and incidentally to Bohr's also, was the notion of 'unbroken wholeness', a notion that is crucial for understanding quantum properties like quantum nonlocality. His proposals were based on a primitive notion of `process' or `activity', producing a more 'organic' approach to quantum phenomena. He published many papers outlining these new ideas, some plausible, some less so, but was not able to develop a coherent mathematical structure to support the work. Over the last ten years much of that missing mathematics has been put in place. This paper will report this new work, concentrating on providing a coherent overview of the whole programme.
Abstract The paper proposes that quantum theory implies a radically new notion of matter which has not been properly understood before David Bohm’s groundbreaking work. Bohm proposed that the fundamental particles of physics (such as electrons) are not merely pushed around mechanically by classical forces but are also able to respond to information. Information is thus assumed to be an objective commodity which can exist independently of the human mind and which actively guides or instructs physical processes. This notion of active information also applies in computational, biological and psychological phenomena, thus helping us to understand how the mental and the physical sides of reality are related. It may even help us to understand the nature of conscious experience. The latter part of the paper considers the deeper mathematical and physical background of quantum theory and suggests that we need to revise our basic assumptions about quantum objects, such as the role of the wave function.
In this article, we investigate Bohm's view of quantum theory, especially Bohm's quantum potential, from a new perspective. We develop a quasi-Newtonian approach to Bohmian mechanics. We show that to arrive at Bohmian formulation of quantum mechanics, there is no necessity to start from the Schrödinger equation. We also obtain an equation that restricts the possible forms of quantum potential and determines the functional form of it without appealing to the wave function and the Schrödinger equation. Finally, we discuss about the significance of quantum potential in the conceptual structure of quantum theory.