Quantum Art: Mimesis, Uncertainty, and the Infinite

Paul Thomas

The article explores parallels between quantum evolution and developments taking place in the fine arts. Chance, uncertainty, probability, and intuition are all hallmarks of expression across the fields of both art and scientific practice. The role of the observer in art and science is explored through a comparative study between the act of fine art drawing and quantum measurement. What is meant by the role of the observer to the very act of seeing. The observer draws away a veil of inadequacy in looking for reality. The article reflects on the process of drawing’s comparative relationship the role of the observer in art and science. This role of the observer is analysed in relation to delayed choice quantum erasure, probability, indeterminacy, counterfactual definitiveness, entanglement, superposition, and the classical quantum divide, through the artist’s act of mark-making. There is a need for an attentive gaze when confronting so-called truths. Intentional repositioning and reframing of science practices through art can promote exploration of different ways of visualising, perceiving, understanding, communicating, and acting in the material world. In so doing the article describes a “quantum drawing” workshop created for art and science practitioners. The workshop is a new model for facilitating a transdisciplinary development of alternative domains and discourses that garner insights from the act of seeing and understanding. The workshop explores visual expression, material interaction and embodied practices speculating on quantum intuition, quantum computing and infinite speed. The article defines the quantisation of drawing as a tool for unpacking the role of the observer in art and science to embrace uncertainty.

Vladimír Majerník, Lukáš Richterek

We calculate the entropic and standard uncertainty relations for the position and momentum of the infinite potential well as functions of its quantum states. We show that the entropic uncertainty relations express more adequately the uncertainty principle than the standard ones which use the dispersions as measures of the uncertainties for two non-commuting observables.

Amit Goswami

Yinuo Shao

As a matter of fact, the Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle has important significance and extensive application in microcosmic particle science, is one of the cornerstones of quantum mechanics, proposed by Heisenberg in 1927. The uncertainty principle means that it is impossible to measure a particle’s speed and position at the same time. The uncertainty of particle, i.e., the product of uncertainty of position (∆Q) and uncertainty of momentum (∆P), is inevitable greater than or equal to Plank’s constant, it expresses the inconsistency between particle behavior in microcosm and macroscopic substance. This study is going to set forth the uncertainty meaning, the research progress of uncertainty principle from the angle of physics, and further exploring the physical significance of Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. According to the analysis, the state-of-art applications will be demonstrated as well as the current limitations and prospects will be discussed. Overall, these results pave a novel path for further investigation in regarding to Heisenberg’s uncertainty.

E. Brézin