Quantum Sculpture: Art Inspired by the Deeper Nature of Reality
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Reference
Julian Voss-Andreae: Quantum Sculpture: Art Inspired by the Deeper Nature of Reality. In: Bridges 2010. Pages 3–10
DOI
Abstract
The author, a sculptor with a background in physics, describes sculptures he creates inspired by quantum physics. He argues that art such as the presented sculptures can indicate aspects of reality that science cannot and therefore has the potential to help liberate us from the deep impact the paradigm of classical physics continues to have on our every perception of reality.
Extended Abstract
Bibtex
Used References
[1] J. Voss-Andreae, “Protein Sculptures: Life’s Building Blocks Inspire Art,” Leonardo 38 1 (2005) pp. 41–45.
[2] M. Arndt, O. Nairz, J. Voss-Andreae, C. Keller, G. van der Zouw and A. Zeilinger, “Wave-Particle Duality of C60 Molecules,” Nature 401 (1999) pp. 680–682.
[3] “Classical physics” refers to the physics before the 20th century advent of quantum physics.
[4] See A. Einstein, B. Podolsky, and N. Rosen, “Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?”, Phys. Rev. 47 (1935) pp. 777–780 and Bohr’s reply with the same title (but a different implied answer): N. Bohr, “Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?”, Phys. Rev. 48 (1935) pp. 696–702.
[5] These models often contain an additional imprecision in that they illustrate only the angular dependence of the wave-function without including the radial one. I am sure many if not most scientists would draw these spherical harmonics if asked to depict ‘what a hydrogen atom looks like’.
[6] Anton Zeilinger’s group homepage: <www.quantum.at/zeilinger>.
[7] The double-slit experiment is a beautifully simple experimental setup that consists of a beam of particles or light that is sent through two neighboring openings, the slits. The detected pattern behind the slits (“interference pattern”) reveals whether or not the beam has traveled as a wave and passed through both openings at once.
[8] Our experiment was technically not a double-slit experiment since we used a grating with more than two slits. But the difference is not significant because the wave-function of one buckyball extends coherently only over about two slits in width.
[9] Luca Pacioli. “De Divina Proportione” (Venice: 1509).
[10] A very small distance (1.6 x 10-35 m) that is thought to be of fundamental meaning in physics.
[11] “Dual Nature,” Science 313 (2006) p. 913; see <www.JulianVossAndreae.com/Artist/resume/images/2006_08_18_Science.pdf>.
[12] Richard Feynman’s path integral formalism is a tool for calculating quantum mechanical probabilities by adding up all possible paths (“sum over histories”). This is done by “slicing up time” to parameterize arbitrary paths. The slabs suggest the time slices and the irregularly placed rods the random path points. See also the description of Night Path (2009) in the last section.
[13] For footage of the sculpture displaying this effect see V. Patton, “Quantum Sculptures with Julian Voss-Andreae,” Oregon Art Beat (Oregon Public Broadcasting TV) Episode 1012 (2008); see <www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqsQYVFAgPo>.
[14] P. Ball, “Quantum objects on show,” Nature 462 (2009) p. 416; see
<www.JulianVossAndreae.com/Artist/resume/articles/2009_11_26_Nature.pdf>.
[15] <www.acp.org>.
[16] “Quantum Objects” was part of the three-person exhibition “Worlds Within Worlds” (Fall 2009–Spring 2010).
[17] See <www.JulianVossAndreae.com> under “Work” and “Archive”.
[18] M. F. Crommie, C. Lutz and D. Eigler, “Confinement of Electrons to Quantum Corrals on a Metal Surface,” Science 262 (1993) pp. 218–220. This experiment is also featured in D. S. Goodsell, “Fact and Fantasy in Nanotech Imagery,” Leonardo 42 1 (2009) pp. 52—57 and C. Toumey, “Truth and Beauty at the Nanoscale,” Leonardo 42 2 (2009) pp. 151—155.
[19] What is imaged in this experiment is essentially the square of the surface state electrons’ wave-function.
[20] The same had been done to prepare all the published images of the quantum corral including the images in the original publication M. F. Crommie et al. [18].
[21] P. Ball [14]
[22] “Cannot be observed” in this context does not mean “when nobody looks”, but rather that an observation is in principle impossible because there is no physical carrier of information (e.g. a photon that could get detected by an observer’s eye).
[23] For a more detailed discussion about the relationship between Night Path and the physics that inspired it, see [14] and the Q&A section in Philip Ball’s blog “homunculus” <www.philipball.blogspot.com/2009/11/quantum-objects.html>.
Links
Full Text
http://archive.bridgesmathart.org/2010/bridges2010-3.pdf
