Quantum Cooperation of Two Insects

Abstract

The physical concept of quantum entanglement is brought to the biological domain. We simulate the cooperation of two insects by hypothesizing that they share a large number of quantum entangled spin-1/2 particles. Each of them makes measurements on these particles to decide whether to execute certain actions. In the first example, two ants must push a pebble, which may be too heavy for one ant. In the second example, two distant butterflies must find each other. In both examples the individuals make odour-guided random choices of possible directions, followed by a quantum decision whether to push/fly or to wait. With quantum entanglement the two ants can push the pebble up to twice as far as independent ants, and the two butterflies may need as little as half of the flight path of independent butterflies to find each other.