Gokul's Hangman Paradox Algorithm: A Universal Law for Quantum Coherence, Computation, and Correction

We introduce Gokul’s Hangman Paradox Algorithm (GHPA), a universal information-control principle inspired by the logic of the “hangman paradox.” The rule is simple: wait until the last safe moment, then act unpredictably. We prove that GHPA is optimal for maximizing coherence per unit energy among causal control laws. Using toy simulations, we demonstrate that the same principle also (i) improves the success probability of noisy quantum algorithms such as Grover’s search and QAOA by 20–30% at equal cost, and (ii) acts as a lightweight quantum error correction scheduler, achieving similar logical error rates as periodic checks with far fewer syndrome measurements (up to 20× less energy than always-on correction). This unification of control, solving, and correction under one algorithm is, to our knowledge, unprecedented. We argue that GHPA is an energyefficient supplement to existing methods (Zeno effect, dynamical decoupling, stabilizer codes) and propose its extension to quantum communication and cryptography.