Ravi Gomatam

Ravi Veeraraghavan Gomatam
Born	Chennai, India
Alma mater	Annamalai University, Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani, University of Mumbai
Occupation(s)	Quantum physicist, philosopher of science, academic
Years active	1980s–present
Known for	Contributions to foundations of quantum mechanics, Objective Semantic Information, Relational Properties, consciousness studies
Website	PostQuantum (scientific blog)

Ravi Veeraraghavan Gomatam (born in Chennai, India) leads the Bhaktivedanta Institute located in Berkeley and Mumbai, as well as the Institute of Semantic Information Sciences and Technology in Mumbai, where he also instructs graduate-level courses. Between 1993 and 2015, he held the position of adjunct professor at Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani.

During 2016–2017, Gomatam was appointed visiting professor at the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), an organization under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

In January 1990, he coordinated the First International Conference on the Study of Consciousness within Science held in San Francisco. Seven years later, in 1997, he initiated the world's inaugural M.S./Ph.D. degree programs dedicated to "consciousness studies" in association with BITS Pilani, establishing consciousness studies as a cross-disciplinary scientific domain that redefines the concept of matter.

Since 2015, the Institute of Semantic Information Sciences and Technology has collaborated with Mumbai University to provide M.A. (by research) and doctoral programs.

Gomatam’s investigations concentrate on the foundational aspects of quantum mechanics, where he has introduced pioneering ideas such as "Objective, Semantic Information" and a unique framework for "Relational Properties," which have been acknowledged for their transformative potential. His scholarly interests extend to semantic computation, systems sciences, artificial intelligence, philosophy of science, and philosophy of language.

Education

• Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Annamalai University, India
• Master of Engineering in Electronics Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, India
• Doctorate in Foundations of Quantum Mechanics from Mumbai University, India. Dissertation titled: Toward a realist interpretation of quantum theory – Integrating Bohr and Einstein.

Early work in the industry

Gomatam has provided consultancy services to multiple Fortune-500 corporations including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Burroughs, and IBM. His expertise covered operating system architecture, data communications, and large-scale database system design.

Academic career

Starting in the early 1980s, Gomatam dedicated himself to fundamental scientific inquiry and contributed significantly to the Bhaktivedanta Institute branches in Mumbai and Berkeley. His doctoral degree was awarded based on this research. He has also held visiting scholar positions at University of Pretoria in South Africa and Loyola University in the United States.

Research

Gomatam’s specialization lies within non-relativistic quantum mechanics (QM), grounded in Schrödinger's wave equation formulated in 1925. He is formulating a novel perspective on macroscopic quantum mechanics (MQM), which differs markedly from Anthony James Leggett’s 1980s concepts related to ‘macroscopic dissipative systems’ and ‘macroscopic quantum coherence.’

Whereas Leggett’s research seeks to extend microscopic quantum superposition phenomena to macroscopic scales through SQUID experiments involving electron quantities ranging from 10^15 to 10^20, Gomatam pursues an independent MQM framework that does not rely on applying the Schrödinger equation at microscopic levels. His methodology treats macroscopic entities as quantum kinds rather than classical objects, facilitating direct detection of quantum superposition effects at macroscopic dimensions.

Additionally, he is advancing two groundbreaking theoretical constructs: the ontology termed "Objective, Semantic Information" (OSI) alongside its associated "Relational Properties" (RPs). His work intersects with advanced topics such as exotic manifolds, semantic information processing technologies, quantum computation, and the philosophy of ordinary language.

Selected publications

• Are Niels Bohr's Interpretation and the Copenhagen Interpretation Mutually Exclusive? Gomatam examines the differences between Bohr's own interpretation and the Copenhagen Interpretation, which he helped develop. This article was part of the required curriculum for a Quantum Mechanics course at Brown University.
• The Observation Problem in Quantum Theory. Michael Turvey acknowledges Gomatam for introducing the term "observation problem" within quantum mechanics, emphasizing the necessity of a quantum-compatible understanding of everyday objects that aligns with superposition principles. This study has been referenced by Wolfgang Prinz, M.W. Stuckey, and Panos Pardalos for its contributions to macroscopic quantum mechanics.
• Distinguishing Classical from Quantum Probabilities. Investigates the fundamental differences between classical probability theory and quantum probability models.
• System of Systems Design Approach and Macroscopic Quantum Mechanics.
• Quantum Theory, the Chinese Room Argument, and Challenges in Symbol Grounding.
• Exploring Quantum Realism through the Concept of Haecceity.
• A Comparative Analysis of Popper’s Propensity Interpretation and Heisenberg’s Potentia Interpretation.
• Do Hodgson's Propositions Provide a Unique Account of Free Will? An invited critique on David Hodgson's work "A Plain Person's View of Free Will."
• Reestablishing the Relationship Between Physics and Common Sense in the Context of Quantum Theory.

Professional memberships

• Affiliated with the American Association for Artificial Intelligence
• Member of the American Philosophical Society

External resources

• Gomatam’s Scientific Blog: PostQuantum