Quantum approach to jam session

Abstract

A quantum mechanical approach to the psychoacoustic effect of Shepard tones has been explored. Melodic intervals are represented by qubits. The phenomenon of bistable perception of intervals and their acoustic collapse has been considered and described in the language of quantum mechanics. It is shown that the perception of intervals can be understood as a result of measuring the standard basis vector in different bases rotated in a plane of the chroma circle. For comparison, the Stern-Gerlach and photon polarization experiments have been cited to show an analogy. A quantum analog of the Shepard interval source, with a photonic random number generator, has been proposed. The topic of quantum entanglement transferred to the field of sound and psychoacoustics is also discussed. Based on quantum-like calculations, it has been shown how disturbances in time coherence between the playing of different music band members could affect the modification of the melody.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).