Asymmetric Posner Molecule Ensemble Undermines Quantum Cognition Spin Coherence — E8 Intelligence Research
FINDING: The Posner molecule (Ca₉(PO₄)₆) — proposed as a biological quantum information processor — has a dynamical ensemble that is *not* symmetric, undermining the assumption of long-lived nuclear spin coherence required for quantum cognition models. | MATH: Stoichiometry: Ca₉(PO₄)₆ → 9 Ca²⁺, 6 PO₄³⁻. Nuclear spin-1/2 on ³¹P (6 sites) and spin-7/2 on ⁴³Ca (9 sites). The relevant Hilbert space dimension for ³¹P alone: 2⁶ = 64; with ⁴³Ca: (2×7/2+1)⁹ = 8⁹ = 134,217,728. The paper (arXiv:2108.08822v2) shows the dynamical ensemble (time-averaged density matrix under internal Hamiltonian) lacks the full octahedral (Oₕ) or even tetrahedral (T_d) symmetry previously assumed. | CONNECTION: The *idealized* Posner cluster has approximate octahedral symmetry (6 PO₄ tetrahedra around a central Ca₃ triangle motif) — a crystallographic point group Oₕ (order 48). The broken symmetry in the dynamical ensemble means the nuclear spin states do not decompose into irreducible representations of Oₕ in the Author: Andrew Stewart Caldin, Independent Researcher, UK. Part of the E8 Intelligence Research series. Platform: e8intelligence.com
Authors
- Andrew Stewart Caldin
Publication Details
- Journal
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Published
- 2026-09-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22873857
- Primary Topic
- Advanced NMR Techniques and Applications
- Type
- preprint