What It Is Like To Be A Quantum Computer: A Closed Quantum Global Workspace -- Conscious Access and Integration as Correlation Dynamics in Hilbert Space

Quantum Physics arXiv:2607.11909 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 3 Jul 2026] Title:What It Is Like To Be A Quantum Computer: A Closed Quantum Global Workspace -- Conscious Access and Integration as Correlation Dynamics in Hilbert Space Authors:Libby Heaney View a PDF of the paper titled What It Is Like To Be A Quantum Computer: A Closed Quantum Global Workspace -- Conscious Access and Integration as Correlation Dynamics in Hilbert Space, by Libby Heaney View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:Motivated by speculative artistic inquiry into quantum-only forms of experience in relation to representation and embodiment, this paper develops a translation of the Global Neuronal Workspace (GNW) theory for closed quantum systems. The work treats classical GNW as an architectural reference and asks how conscious access and memory change under unitary dynamics. We reference a quantum Hopfield-style Hamiltonian that mirrors key organisational features of GNW, such as a distributed workspace and tunable large-scale integration. Within this framework, global availability of information is realised through coherence-preserving correlation distributions and memory is a persistent internal correlation structure. Likewise, ignition becomes a transition in global entanglement as opposed to convergence towards a stable attractor. Reductions of the Hopfield-style Hamiltonian lead to a tractable toy model and GHZ-type entanglement, explicitly showing how relative phase is globally accessible through joint internal operations yet absent from all local subsystems. This closed quantum system approach clarifies which aspects of workspace theories are contingent on classical assumptions. Our model highlights a non-representational regime in which access and memory are entirely relational rather than copies or records. Beyond its scientific contribution, the paper proposes a mode of art-science collaboration where speculative artistic inquiry is pursued through theoretical models rather than illustration or data. Comments: Subjects: Quantum Physics (quant-ph) Cite as: arXiv:2607.11909 [quant-ph] (or arXiv:2607.11909v1 [quant-ph] for this version) https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2607.11909 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite Submission history From: Libby Heaney [view email] [v1] Fri, 3 Jul 2026 08:21:04 UTC (420 KB) Full-text links: Access Paper: View a PDF of the paper titled What It Is Like To Be A Quantum Computer: A Closed Quantum Global Workspace -- Conscious Access and Integration as Correlation Dynamics in Hilbert Space, by Libby HeaneyView PDFHTML (experimental)TeX Source view license Current browse context: quant-ph new | recent | 2026-07 References & Citations INSPIRE HEP NASA ADSGoogle Scholar Semantic Scholar export BibTeX citation Loading... BibTeX formatted citation × loading... Data provided by: Bookmark Bibliographic Tools Bibliographic and Citation Tools Bibliographic Explorer Toggle Bibliographic Explorer (What is the Explorer?) Connected Papers Toggle Connected Papers (What is Connected Papers?) Litmaps Toggle Litmaps (What is Litmaps?) scite.ai Toggle scite Smart Citations (What are Smart Citations?) Code, Data, Media Code, Data and Media Associated with this Article alphaXiv Toggle alphaXiv (What is alphaXiv?) Links to Code Toggle CatalyzeX Code Finder for Papers (What is CatalyzeX?) DagsHub Toggle DagsHub (What is DagsHub?) GotitPub Toggle Gotit.pub (What is GotitPub?) Huggingface Toggle Hugging Face (What is Huggingface?) ScienceCast Toggle ScienceCast (What is ScienceCast?) Demos Demos Replicate Toggle Replicate (What is Replicate?) Spaces Toggle Hugging Face Spaces (What is Spaces?) Spaces Toggle TXYZ.AI (What is TXYZ.AI?) Related Papers Recommenders and Search Tools Link to Influence Flower Influence Flower (What are Influence Flowers?) Core recommender toggle CORE Recommender (What is CORE?) Author Venue Institution Topic About arXivLabs arXivLabs: experimental projects with community collaborators arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website. Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them. Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs. Which authors of this paper are endorsers? | Disable MathJax (What is MathJax?)