‘What we do know is that consciousness in an entity can detectably affect the reduction of a quantum state, and can be affected by it. That’s how a mentatrope works, after all. The quantum superposition in a mentatrope is influenced by the presence of consciousness as well as influencing consciousness. So it’s not at all unreasonable that consciousness might affect the quantum coherence in our superfluid ring.’
Willa Mendanadum spoke from the audience. ‘Excuse me, Kathi, but a mentatrope contains no superfluid. The quantum superposition is between different calcium ion displacements. It’s much the same as the superpositions of electron displacements in a quantputer.’
‘I’m aware of that,’ Kathi replied. ‘But no quantputer gives a reading on a mentatrope. The organisation of calcium ions in a mentatrope is of a completely different character from that in a quantputer – much more like the superfluid in our ring, where the total mass involved begins to be significant.’
Willa was adamant. Her slight figure seemed to vibrate with scorn. ‘Sorry, Kathi, I know you’re bidding fair to be a guru and all that, but there is absolutely no evidence of any similarity between this ring and a mentatrope. The scale’s completely different, for one thing. The geometry is different. The materials are different. The purposes are different.’
‘But—’
‘Let me finish, please. I must make the point that there is absolutely no evidence that the proximity of a conscious human being has any effect whatsoever on the functioning of the ring. In fact, as I understand it, the argon 36 in the ring’s superfluid is geared specifically to detect the monopole gravitational effects of a HIGMO – not of a brainwave!’
Kathi seemed unmoved. She said, ‘We don’t know what the appropriate quantum superposition parameters are for Chimborazo. Chimborazo is built on an entirely different scale from us humans. Very possibly it has the ability to tune its own internal mental activities so as to relate specifically to the ring.’
‘Absurd!’ exclaimed Jimmy Gonzales Dust from the back row of boffins.
She turned to him, saying mildly, ‘Absurd, is it? For an alien intellect twenty-five kilometres high? How dare we presume to suggest its limitations?’
‘But you are speculating wildly,’ Jimmy protested.
‘I’d say that at this juncture, a little wild speculation is in order,’ Dreiser said. ‘Continue, Kathi.’
‘My speculation is based on fact, by the way,’ Kathi said, with something of her old tartness in her voice. I remembered her fondness for correcting those who were basically on her side. What her relationship was with Dreiser was difficult to guess. ‘We know that a mentatrope works, but not why. The discovery of the Reynaud-Damien effect was an accident. The implication was that consciousness has a subtle influence on the reduction of a quantum state.’
‘I don’t accept that, Kathi,’ Jimmy said, cutting in. ‘However, one result of the French guys’ researches was the development of a CPS detector.’
Her eyes flashed irritation, but she said with disarming mildness, ‘And the CPS detector led to the development of the mentatrope for psychiatric purposes. Thanks for your contribution, Jimmy. At least we do know that a mentatrope has something in common with the ring, In each case the important element is a quantum state-reduction phenomenon. I’ve looked into the history of the subject. You people, like Jimmy here, are too sunk in ring-technology to remember where it all comes from.’
Jimmy broke in indignantly. ‘We all know about quantum state-reduction. That was sorted out early this century with the definitive Walter Heitelman experiment.’
Kathi studied him for a moment, gave a brief nod, smiled, and said, changing tack, ‘And there were some ideas put forth last century, suggesting various possible connections between consciousness and quantum state-reduction. They all petered out because of lack of experimental confirmation, in most cases because of a direct conflict with observation. But the general idea itself still remains, at least in principle. There were heated discussions in the scientific literature, most of it forgotten.
‘I’d say that if you put these ideas together – bearing in mind that the glitches in the ring are indeed state-reduction effects – there’s a plausible case for a connection between the ring glitches we’ve recorded and Chimborazo’s consciousness.’