Objective Bayesian Reality 5

A portentous event occurring in our time is the development of theory and technology concerning quantum computation. As implied by its name quantum computation is thoroughly quantum in nature. A number of quantum particles are entangled in an interactive web and their properties are manipulated to make their relationship logically analogous to a computational problem to be solved such as a prime number factorization. To extract the problem's answer a decoherence of the quantum web is forced and the system deposits its answer into the environment via Quantum Darwinism. In this way quantum computation is entirely equivalent to quantum mechanics. As noted by Seth Lloyd of MIT, the universe can be seen as a quantum computer and each interaction between fundamental particles as a quantum computation. What is computed is the outcome of the interaction.[i] In other words what is computed is the future of the constituents composing the universe.

A formal equivalency (isomorphism) has been shown between the formulations of information transfer as presented by Quantum Darwinism and that presented by quantum computation. [ii] Given that quantum computation is analogous to quantum theory we must conclude that quantum measurements, quantum interactions and quantum computations all refer to the process of quantum decoherence occurring in differing circumstances.

This observation justifies a merging of the interpretational explanation offered by Quantum Darwinism with that offered by Quantum Computation. Insight may be gained from hybrid interpretations such as: The future of the universe is selected by a Darwinian process. In other words this interpretation suggests that the future history of the universe is selected from it potentialities through a Darwinian process. The future is selected from possibilities generated in the past on the basis of their adaptability for survival or existence in their environment.

Given that the fundamental web of interactions at the quantum level may be interpreted as composed of a Darwinian process, it is little wonder that many of the best scientific theories describing scientific subject matter of greater emergent complexity: life, population genetics, neurology and culture also rely on Darwinian processes.

[i] Lloyd Seth (2007), Programming the Universe, Vintage; Reprint edition

[ii] Blume-Kohout, Robin and Ng, Hui Khoon and Poulin, David and Viola, Lorenza (2008) Characterizing the Structure of Preserved Information in Quantum Processes. Physical Review Letters, 100 (3). Art. No. 030501. ISSN 0031-9007

[i] Lloyd Seth (2007), Programming the Universe, Vintage; Reprint edition

Computing the Future