Quantum measurement and colour perception: theory and applications

Abstract

In this paper, we make a systematic use of the quantum measurement theory to describe perceived colours and analyse some of their fundamental properties. After motivating the naturalness of the quantum measurement approach in the mathematical framework of the colour perception theory proposed by the authors in previous papers, we show how to obtain several results. Among our theoretical outcomes, we mention the possibility to confine the colour cone to a finite-volume colour solid and the link between post-measurement state changes, Lorentz boosts and the Einstein–Poincaré relativistic addition law. We apply these results to obtain a chromatic match equation that emphasizes the importance of the Hilbert–Klein metric on the unit disk and we also present a quantitative description of Hunt’s effect.