Quantum autopoiesis : a quantum-informational model of recursive identity and knowledge discovery

Stankovski, Vlado (author)

A formal operational model of quantum autopoiesis is presented that is physically grounded in photon–fermion interactions and in the phase structure of the electromagnetic field. The continuous electromagnetic phase, associated with a $U$(1) reference symmetry, is treated as an underlying substrate that, under local interaction conditions and finite resolution, yields a finite set of stable phase classes $Z$$_n$, interpreted operationally as a symbolic alphabet. Identity persistence is defined by sustained coherence between the electromagnetic field and existing fermionic structure. When coherence is sufficient, the current symbolic state is carried forward; when coherence is locally reduced and admissible transitions exist, discrete phase updates occur. Photon–fermion interactions are thus treated as physically admissible gates acting on elements of $Z$$_n$. Formally, persistence is captured by the recursive identity operator $I$ =$\lambda$ s.s, while gate application corresponds to controlled symbolic update $I$ =$\lambda$ $\delta$ s. Within this framework, three questions are addressed. First, identity persistence is characterized as the ability to carry symbols across time under coherence. Second, new knowledge discovery is defined as the successful stabilization of a discrete update in fermionic (symbolic) structure. Third, the accumulation of symbolic logic structure arises from alternating phases of persistence and targeted updates, producing reusable structure without loss of identity. The significance of the model lies in its integration of identity, knowledge discovery, and symbolic computation within a single physically grounded formalism, where computation emerges operationally from composable transitions under physical constraints.

• Language: English
• Keywords: autopoiesis, recursive identity function, quantum information, fine structure, semantics, computational universality, formal language theory, scientific method
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FRI - Faculty of Computer and Information Science
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 12 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 262, art. 105735
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-181744
• UDC: 004:530.145
• ISSN on article: 0303-2647
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2026.105735
• COBISS.SI-ID: 269834755
• Publication date in RUL: 15.04.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Biosystems
• Shortened title: Biosystems
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0303-2647
• COBISS.SI-ID: 25103360

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: avtopoieza, rekurzivna identitetna funkcija, kvantna informacija, drobna struktura, semantika, računska univerzalnost, teorija formalnih jezikov, znanstvena metoda