Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Quantum-Mechanical Model of an Atom

The Quantum-Mechanical Model of an Atom

Shortly after de Broglie published his ideas that the electron in a hydrogen atom could be better thought of as being a circular standing wave instead of a particle moving in quantized circular orbits, Erwin Schrödinger extended de Broglie’s work by deriving what is now known as the Schrödinger equation. When Schrödinger applied his equation to hydrogen-like atoms, he was able to reproduce Bohr’s expression for the energy and, thus, the Rydberg formula governing hydrogen spectra.

The Pauli Exclusion Principle

The Pauli Exclusion Principle

The arrangement of electrons in the orbitals of an atom is called its electron configuration. We describe an electron configuration with a symbol that contains three pieces of information:

The Uncertainty Principle

The Uncertainty Principle

Werner Heisenberg considered the limits of how accurately one can measure properties of an electron or other microscopic particles. He determined that there is a fundamental limit to how accurately one can measure both a particle’s position and its momentum simultaneously. The more accurate the measurement of the momentum of a particle is known, the less accurate the position at that time is known and vice versa. This is what is now called the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. He...

The de Broglie Wavelength

The de Broglie Wavelength

In the macroscopic world, objects that are large enough to be seen by the naked eye follow the rules of classical physics. A billiard ball moving on a table will behave like a particle; it will continue traveling in a straight line unless it collides with another ball, or it is acted on by some other force, such as friction. The ball has a well-defined position and velocity or well-defined momentum, p = mv, which is defined by mass m and velocity v at any given moment. This is the typical...

Entropy Change in Reversible Processes

Entropy Change in Reversible Processes

In the Carnot engine, which achieves the maximum efficiency between two reservoirs of fixed temperatures, the total change in entropy is zero. The observation can be generalized by considering any reversible cyclic process consisting of many Carnot cycles. Thus, it can be stated that the total entropy change of any ideal reversible cycle is zero.
The statement can be further generalized to prove that entropy is a state function. Take a cyclic process between any two points on a p-V diagram.

Cyclic Processes And Isolated Systems

Cyclic Processes And Isolated Systems

A thermodynamic system with zero heat exchange and work is an isolated system. For these systems, the internal energy remains constant.
In the case of a non-isolated system, the change in the internal energy is zero only if the process is cyclic. A thermodynamic process is considered cyclic if the system undergoes a series of changes and returns to its initial state.
Consider a cyclic process that returns to its initial state, undergoing a four-step process. The heat transfer along each...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Process and Space.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Transitivity, contextuality and decision making.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2025

Same author

Contextuality in Collective Intelligence: Not There Yet.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

Same author

Process and Time.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

Same author

An Information Ontology for the Process Algebra Model of Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

Same author

Transients as the Basis for Information Flow in Complex Adaptive Systems.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Large Scale Energy Efficient Sensor Network Routing Using a Quantum Processor Unit

Large Scale Energy Efficient Sensor Network Routing Using a Quantum Processor Unit

Published on: September 8, 2023

The Classical-Quantum Dichotomy from the Perspective of the Process Algebra.

William Sulis¹

¹Collective Intelligence Laboratory, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 2T6, Canada.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)

|February 25, 2022

Summary

The classical-quantum dichotomy is a false dichotomy, arising from simplified views of reality. Process Algebra reveals a unitary reality where system behavior depends on complexity and information flow.

Keywords:

classical-quantum boundary contextuality generativity information locality process algebra

More Related Videos

Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators

Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators

Published on: May 30, 2014

Generation and Coherent Control of Pulsed Quantum Frequency Combs

Generation and Coherent Control of Pulsed Quantum Frequency Combs

Published on: June 8, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Large Scale Energy Efficient Sensor Network Routing Using a Quantum Processor Unit

Large Scale Energy Efficient Sensor Network Routing Using a Quantum Processor Unit

Published on: September 8, 2023

Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators

Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators

Published on: May 30, 2014

Generation and Coherent Control of Pulsed Quantum Frequency Combs

Generation and Coherent Control of Pulsed Quantum Frequency Combs

Published on: June 8, 2018

Area of Science:

Physics
Philosophy of Science
Complex Systems Theory

Background:

The classical-quantum dichotomy is a long-standing problem in physics and philosophy.
Existing explanations often rely on stereotyped or incomplete definitions of classical and quantum systems.
Whitehead's process theory and complex systems theory offer alternative frameworks for understanding fundamental reality.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the classical-quantum dichotomy using the Process Algebra approach.
To re-evaluate the nature of reality and its description from a process-oriented perspective.
To demonstrate that the dichotomy is a construct rather than a fundamental feature of reality.

Main Methods:

Utilizing Process Algebra to model fundamental phenomena.
Applying concepts from complex systems theory to analyze system dynamics.
Interpreting reality through the lens of Whitehead's process theory, emphasizing becoming, generativity, transience, locality, and contextuality.

Main Results:

The classical-quantum dichotomy is identified as a false dichotomy.
Reality is posited as unitary, not fundamentally divided into classical and quantum realms.
System behavior (classical or quantum) is shown to be dependent on specific characteristics, particularly complexity and information flow dynamics.

Conclusions:

The perceived dichotomy arises from inadequate or stereotypical descriptions of classical and quantum behaviors.
A process-based view reveals a unified reality where apparent differences are emergent properties.
Understanding system complexity and information flow is key to resolving the classical-quantum distinction.