Cellular Automota

Context

In his last years, von Neumann puzzled over the question of whether a machine could reproduce itself. Using an abstract model (a cellular automata), von Neumann outlined how a machine could reproduce itself from simple components. Key to this demonstration is that the machine reads its own “genetic” code, interpreting it first as instructions for constructing the machine exclusive of the code and second as data. In the second phase, the machine copies its code in order to create a completely “fertile” new machine. Conceptually, this work anticipated later discoveries in genetics.

Quantum Mechanics

Gerard 't Hooft, a Nobel Laureate, delved into a perspective on quantum mechanics known as the Cellular Automaton Interpretation.

1. A cellular automaton is a computer model of a dynamical system. It consists of cells arranged in a multidimensional grid (often two- or three-dimensional). Each cell contains data, typically represented by bits, and evolves over time².
2. The Cellular Automaton Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: Dissatisfied with the gaps between conventional quantum mechanics and the classical world, 't Hooft proposed a deterministic view. He revived the old hidden variable ideas but in a more systematic manner. In this interpretation:
   1. Quantum mechanics is viewed as a tool, not a theory.
   2. Models that appear classical at their core can be analyzed using quantum techniques.
   3. Even the Standard Model, along with gravitational interactions, might be seen as a quantum mechanical approach to analyze a system with classical underpinnings.
   4. This proposal aims to address the collapse problem, the measurement problem, and even the existence of an "arrow of time" in a novel way¹.
3. Key Insights:**
   1. 't Hooft's approach challenges the belief in fundamental randomness in nature, aligning with Albert Einstein's perspective.
   2. It offers an alternative to the traditional quantum language, emphasizing states in Hilbert space.
   3. The interpretation suggests that classical descriptions need not be forever impossible, even at the tiniest scales of nature¹.

In summary, Gerard 't Hooft's Cellular Automaton Interpretation invites us to rethink the relationship between quantum mechanics and classical reality, opening up new avenues for understanding the fundamental fabric of our universe¹.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/5/2024

(1) Physics Today | AIP Publishing. https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/Online/5262/Q-A-Gerard-t-Hooft-on-the-future-of-quantum.
(2) The Cellular Automaton Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. https://arxiv.org/abs/1405.1548.
(3) The Cellular Automaton Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-41285-6.
(4) The Cellular Automaton Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. https://www.loc.gov/item/2019752638/.
(5) The Cellular Automaton Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/article/70/7/60/926364/The-Cellular-Automaton-Interpretation-of-Quantum.
(6) undefined. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1405.1548.

References

Other Material

• Remembering the Improbable Life of Ed Fredkin (1934–2023) and His World of Ideas and Stories by Stephan Wolfram.