The two worlds of quantum computing
How can we show the invisible is a common question in science communication. Science can operate on a level so small it is unconceivable by the human eye or it can investigate more abstract topics like human interaction. Quantum mechanics, however, introduces another level of imperceptibility.
One of its key principles, superposition, represents a state that cannot be directly observed because the very act of measurement destroys it. This creates a unique challenge: how do we convey something that exists but cannot be seen or measured?
We show the invisible aspects of quantum computing as well as the visible.
The seperation of the worlds is analytical. It serves to show two sides of quantum
computing. On the one hand we have the values we can measure, propabilistic results in units. It is how we are trained/used to interact with phenomena.
Superpositioning and entanglement on the other hand are neither accessible to our senses nor to measurement. They are states in motion that are truely random. They are often described as unintuitive.
If you approach our installation you tread in both worlds:
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In the world of
measurement you are a user of the interface.
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In the world of fleeting states you are an observer of the invisible.
In the fleeting states, we reveal a dynamic set of qubits that respond to your interactions with the interface. These qubits embody the hidden world of quantum states, reacting in real-time to your inputs. Through the interface, users can operate quantum gates to manipulate the qubits. While these changes unfold on the qubits, they appear on the interface only as statistical probabilities—and only after measurement. By exploring the interface, users can interact with and gain intuitive insights into foundational quantum principles in a playful and engaging way.
For the fleeting states installation we chose to work with reflective materials and light.
The q-bits are absorbing and reflecting light, they are both opaque and transparent; they interact with their environment and change their appearance depending on where they are placed.
While walking around the installation, the qubits' surfaces appear to glimmer and shift in response to the changing perspective of the observer (more than one states).
Form finding processTo design the shapes of our qubits we used generative noise to shape them. Generative noise embodies principles such as quantum noise, probabilty and complexity. Our forms
emerged unpredictably yet within a structured framework.
At the interface, users manipulate quantum gates in a digital simulation, exploring quantum states and probabilities. Unlike the physical spheres, the interface holds back deterministic outcomes until measurement, reflecting quantum theory's inherent uncertainty.
By linking the immediate visual feedback of the physical installation with the abstract probabilities of the interface, the installation immerses users in a playful exploration of quantum phenomena.
The goal is to make the principles of quantum mechanics accessible.
Making of Light Setup:
See our installation performing here:
GROUP NAMES