Kamaran Fathulla PhD is passionate about demystifying quantum physics and offers some intriguing examples of why its weirdness might be more normal than we think.
Weird, bizarre and counterintuitive. These are some of the terms used by scientists, physicists and the media to describe the world of quantum physics.
The great Albert Einstein — one of the key figures of quantum mechanics — believed certain aspects of the theory to be ‘spooky’. This perception leads the majority of people to think they can’t, or will never, grasp quantum phenomena. This is hardly beneficial for the progress of science, education or society at large.
Demystifying quantum physics
I have a deep interest and passion for the subject, as well as a desire to demystify the perception of the quantum world and its ‘weirdness’. I aim to change the narrative on quantum and, in doing so, make it accessible to all.
So, why do physicists say quantum is weird? There are several reasons for this:
- The duality of the atom: a subatomic particle is both an object and a wave, at the same time, depending on whether they are being observed or not.
- Superposition: in the quantum world, particles can exist in multiple states at once. A particle can be both on and off (using classical terminology) at the same time.
- Entanglement: two things can be so interconnected that they influence each other, regardless of distance apart — even if they were at opposite ends of the universe.
So, how can this apparent weirdness be dispelled? I believe it can be done by demonstrating a correspondence or, if you like, a connectedness between subatomic phenomena and physical reality through examples of quantum phenomena observed in everyday systems. Encouragement comes from none other than Niels Bohr, via a 1935 article in which he cites famous physicists Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen, confirming that there exists a correspondence between subatomic physical quantities and experienced physical reality. The following real-world quantum phenomena examples demonstrate that connection.
Example one: the Hofstadter butterfly
Fractals appear in nature as geometric shapes that repeat patterns at different scales, manifesting in various natural forms, such as trees, plants, coastlines and even the human circulatory system.
The Hofstadter Butterfly is a mathematical fractal pattern that arises in quantum physics, specifically in the study of how electrons behave in a two-dimensional lattice (like a crystal) when exposed to a magnetic field. It was first described by Douglas Hofstadter in 1976 in his seminal paper Energy levels and wave functions of Bloch electrons in rational and irrational magnetic fields. Electrons in a quantum field have the propensity to produce an energy spectrum composed of fractals that would ‘form a very striking pattern somewhat resembling a butterfly’.
Studies carried out at MIT and Princeton universities have shown that, under certain conditions, the energies of electrons in a new class of quantum materials — materials that exhibits strange electronic or magnetic behaviour, as a result of quantum, atomic-scale effects — follow a fractal pattern. One material in question is neodymium nickel oxide, or NdNiO3, a rare earth nickelate that can behave, paradoxically, as both an electrical conductor and an insulator, depending on its temperature.
Example two: quantum behaviour in biology
The mechanism by which animals sense the geomagnetic field remains a mystery today. However, an increasing number of studies have been conducted showing how animals tap into quantum-like properties and capabilities to aid their navigation abilities. A study by scientists from the University of Crete revealed that specific animal navigation abilities operate at or near the quantum limit of magnetic field detection. This study may lead to the development of more sensitive magnetic field sensing devices.
Another study, published in the Journal of Physics Communications, experimentally demonstrated the existence of ‘quantum entanglement’ between bacteria (modelled as dipoles) and quantised light.
What is striking is that some studies have established a link between the quantum abilities of animals and their evolutionary developments, particularly in terms of their amino acid sequences.
Example three: Praxiteles' sculpture of Hermes and Dionysus.
Quantum phenomena are observed in both static and dynamic objects. The marble statue by Praxiteles, c. 330 BC is considered among the greatest works of ancient Greek art, a symbol of beauty and aesthetics. The beauty of the work is woven (entangled) to the marble (a physical object). In such union, there is no observable dualism between the two aspects of the statue — between the marble and the beauty. The two are experienced simultaneously (super-positioned) as one, yet there is an underlying distinction between them. As humans, we have no qualms about this distinction and do not see it as vague or unusual.
Example four: quantum effects in biological systems
Quantum biology suggests that nature may utilise quantum phenomena in biological processes. Quantum effects such as coherence, quantum entanglement and tunnelling could enhance efficiency in photosynthesis, navigation in birds, enzyme reactions and even neural processes in the human brain.
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In photosynthesis, quantum coherence plays a crucial role in the transfer of energy. Studies have shown that light-harvesting complexes exhibit quantum behaviour, allowing for near-perfect energy transfer efficiency.
A 2014 article in Nature magazine showed that quantum effects in biological systems persist at physiological temperatures. This was a massive challenge to earlier assumptions about thermal disruption. This finding was echoed by a 2017 review in the Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, which highlighted the importance of coherence in photosynthetic systems.
What next?
Feynman helped popularise the quantum-information revolution. However, he was often quoted as having expressed frustration with the unintuitive nature of quantum. He is reported to have said: ‘I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics.’
Despite these statements and similar ones, Feynman relished communicating and explaining the intricacies of his work in a distinctly passionate manner.
The time when the phenomena of the quantum world becomes as intuitive as our understanding of the classical world is getting closer by the day. The implications will be profound, especially for academics developing curricula in this subject area.
Professor Brian Cox offers a fantastic introduction to quantum physics on YouTube:
About the author
Kamaran Fathulla PhD is currently Head of the Network and Digital Media Department at Kingston University London. He obtained his PhD in 2006 from the University of Salford. Kamaran and his team at Kingston University London are working with BCS on accrediting a suite of computer science courses.
