Quantum cellular automaton in 1-D

Abstract

Simple algebraic cellular automata and a diffusion confinement are used to model quantum behavior of a relativistic particle in a 1-D box. Comparisons and contrasts are drawn between such a quantum cellular automaton (QCA) and both orthodox and unorthodox interpretations of quantum mechanics. The persistent tension between deterministic pictures and probabilistic descriptions of quantum reality are clarified for the case of a 1-D quantum particle viewed as a cellular automaton surging for survival in space and time.