Dr. N.L. Kachhara
Quantum mechanics is a more fundamental theory than Newtonian mechanics and classical electromagnetism, in the sense that it provides accurate and precise descriptions for many phenomena these "classical" theories simply cannot explain on the atomic and subatomic level. Quantum mechanics was initially developed to explain the atom, especially the spectra of light emitted by different atomic species. The quantum theory of the atom was developed as an explanation for the electron staying in its orbit, which could not be explained by Newton's laws of motion or by classical electromagnetism. In quantum mechanics, the point-like particle is replaced by a wave function - a smeared out, cloud-like structure, assigning a probability to each space-time point that the electron could occupy.
Quantum theory tells us that "particles" are actually interactions between fields. When two fields interact with each other, they do so instantaneously and at one single point in space. These interactions and localized interactions are "particles." Quantum Field Theory merges quantum mechanics and relativity, albeit in a limited way. It is an adhoc, but successful physical theory premised on the assumption that physical reality is essentially non-substantial, and fields alone is real. Fields, and not particles, is the substances of the universe.
Quantum mechanics identifies the silent, or unexpressed phase of matter (the wave function), the dynamic or expressed phase of matter (the classical particle), and also the relationship between them. As elaborated in quantum measurement theory, it is the phenomenon of attention that causes the unmanifested to manifest. This "collapse of the wave function" was thought by some to be brought about by the act of observation itself. The mathematician John von Neumann said that consciousness is a factor in deciding the quantum measurement. Eugene Wigner supported this idea; both looked upon consciousness as part of the mind and believed that consciousness collapsed the quantum wave function. However, recent experiments have determined that this phenomenon does not require any human observer but will take place spontaneously in order to preserve order in the universe.
"Albert Einstein, and with him Louis De Broglie and later David Bohm, believed that quantum mechanics was incomplete, that the wave function was only a statistical description of a deeper structure which was deterministic. Einstein saw quantum mechanics as analogous to a statistical device and the wave function as just a peculiar statistical device for observers who are ignorant of the values of the hidden variables underneath."
According to Martin Flechl, the interpretations mainly differ in the answer to two questions:
- Does the wave function represent (1) anything real (A1) or (2) just a symbol in equations (A2)?
- What kind of interaction causes the collapse of the wave function (1) any contact interaction (B1), or (2) only a consciousness - like interaction (B2).
The Copenhagen Interpretation concludes that, since interaction changes the way a system evolves and since each measurement constitutes an interaction between the measurement device and the measured system, the specific experimental set-up influences the outcome of a measurement and is therefore part of the measurement itself. Nature is divided into two parts: The observed system and the measurement device used.
So far the Copenhagen Interpretation is compatible with all four combinations of answers to the questions A and B. Interestingly, Bohr, Heisenberg and Bohm were advocating A2 (statistical interpretation of the wave function) and B1, while Stapp, who claims to agree with the Copenhagen Interpretation, clearly is in favour of B2 and rather A1, although he is not explicit regarding this question.
Although quantum physics is not necessary to account for indeterminism in nature, it does accurately explain the behavior of particles in the microscopic world.
Holism and non-locality are features of the quantum world with no precise classical equivalents. The former implies that interacting systems have to be considered as wholes - you cannot deal with one part in isolation from the rest. Non-locality means, among other things, that spatial separation between its parts does not alter the requirement to deal with an interacting system holistically.
The original motivation in the early 20th century for relating quantum theory to consciousness was essentially philosophical. It is fairly plausible that conscious free decision (free will) is problematic in a perfectly deterministic world, so quantum randomness might indeed open up novel possibilities for free will. (On the other hand, randomness is problematic for volition!)
The quantum mind or quantum consciousness hypothesis proposes that classical mechanism cannot explain consciousness (it must be noted that consciousness is as an emergent property in these scientific discussions in some way); the apparently chaotic or quantum behavior associated with neural networks cannot be accommodated by classical physics. While quantum mechanical phenomena, such as quantum entanglement and superposition, may play an important part in the brain's functions, it could form the basis of an explanation of consciousness. Quantum theory has however been intriguing for scientists who are eager to provide a physical explanation of consciousness.
Loosely speaking, the point is that consciousness is unlikely to arise from classical properties of matter, which are well known and testable. But quantum theory allows for a new concept of matter altogether for something that is not purely material or purely extra-material. The danger in this way of thinking is to relate consciousness and quantum phenomena only because they are both poorly understood: both are mysterious and unattainable.
Another quantum phenomenon of interest in consciousness studies is the Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC). A BEC is a state of matter that occurs in certain gases at very low temperatures. As the temperature drops, each atom's wave grows, until the waves of all the atoms begin to overlap and eventually merge. After they merge, the atoms are located within the same region in space, they travel at the same speed, and they vibrate at the same frequency: they become indistinguishable. In BEC, many parts of a system not only behave as a whole, they become a whole. Their identities merge in such a way that they lose their individuality. Each particle in a BEC fills all the space and all the time in whatever container holds the condensate. Many of their characteristics are correlated. They behave holistically as one. The condensate acts as one single particle. There is no "noise" or interference between separate parts. This is why super fluids and superconductors have their special frictionless qualities and lasers become so coherent. Superconductors, super fluids and lasers are BEC, but this happens at a very low temperature or in very high energy systems.
"Herbert Frolich argues that BEC is achievable in biological organisms at body temperatures. He found quantum coherence in body cells at body temperature where biological dipole oscillators, such as dielectric protein molecules, vibrate under the influence of an electrical short-range force between the poles of a single oscillator and the coulomb forces between oscillators. Prior to that, quantum physicist Fritz Popp discovered that biological tissue emits a weak glow when stimulated at the right energy levels. Cell walls of biological tissue contain countless proteins and fat molecules which are electrical dipoles. When a cell is at rest these dipoles are out of phase and arrange themselves in a haphazard way. But when they are stimulated they begin to oscillate or jiggle intensely and broadcast a tiny microwave signal. Frolich found that when the energy flowing through the cell reaches a certain critical level, all the cell wall molecular dipoles line up and come into phase. They oscillate in unison as though they are suddenly coordinated. This emergent quantum field is a BEC and has holistic properties common to any quantum field."
Quantum mechanical phenomena such as the Bose-condensation interference within the nervous system have been proposed by several physicists. Coordination of the indeterminacies within a neural network on many neurons is a quantum phenomenon associated with Bose condensation. However, appealing such a model might be, it is only one facet of our understanding. Chris Clarke in his essay "Quantum Mechanics, Consciousness and the Self," states that "physics will be just one contributor to a growing understanding that draws on all facets of our knowing and being."
"The similarities between computer circuits and brain cells have driven brain researchers to construct computer models for the brain. However, computer models are many orders of magnitude lower than needed to account for the speed of human beings. A neurobiologist has calculated that if the brain was a standard serial or a parallel computer it would take more than the age of the universe to perform all the necessary calculations associated with just one perceptual event. But if the brain were a quantum computer, it would try out all the various possible combinations of data arrangement at once and thus unify its experience." "It has also been pointed out that anything that is infallible cannot be intelligent; a computer, being infallible, cannot be intelligent. A computer model of the brain cannot explain the distinctive indivisibility of our thoughts, perceptions and feelings."
All (emergent) theories of consciousness is highly speculative, and in general only their self-consistency and their consistency with other theories (in particular quantum theories which have been tested to the highest precision) can currently be tested. We are talking of possible solutions - without disrespect, since even in centuries no consistent and satisfactory concept of consciousness has been evolved in science.
