Peter Lobner
Nobel Laureate Dr. Richard Feynman is famously quoted as saying, “I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics.” University of Southern California (USC) graduate student Chris Cantwell, the inventor of Quantum Chess, is seeking to change that view by demonstrating that, in the right framework, anyone can grapple with some of the basic concepts of quantum mechanics. In particular, Chris Cantwell views Quantum Chess as a means of “demystifying the quantum world through play.” In Quantum Chess, all of the conventional chess moves are allowed as well as certain quantum moves for all pieces except pawns.
Quantum Chess isn’t a game you can purchase right now, but the short video, “Anyone Can Quantum,” provides an entertaining demonstration of what quantum gameplay will be like in the near future. This video was created by Caltech’s Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM) (http://iqim.caltech.edu) in association with Trouper Productions (http://trouper.net). In the video, actor Paul Rudd (Ant Man) challenges Stephen Hawking to a game of Quantum Chess for the right to give the keynote address at Caltech’s 26 – 27 January 2016 special event, “One Entangled Evening: A Celebration of Richard Feynman’s Quantum Legacy.”
You can view the almost 12 minute video at the following link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi0BzqV_b44
Here are a few of screenshots from the video.
Quantum superposition is demonstrated by “Schrodinger’s king”, which could be in two places at one time.
Without superposition With superposition
Quantum entanglement of the king & bishop enabled a bishop to move through a king.
Without entanglement With entanglement
Resolution of the game required a quantum measurement to determine the winner.
For those of you who can’t wait to play a real game of Quantum Chess, Chris Cantwell has launched a Kickstarter funding program. Find out details at the following link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/507726696/quantum-chess
You can find out more about the 26 – 27 January 2016 Caltech event, “One Entangled Evening: A Celebration of Richard Feynman’s Quantum Legacy,” at the following link:
https://www.caltech.edu/content/one-entangled-evening-celebration-richard-feynmans-quantum-legacy