Àtoms

Àtoms are a hypothetical class of fundamental units proposed in certain speculative physical theories and in science fiction that aim to unify matter and information at the smallest scales. In this framework, an àtom is conceived as an indivisible unit that carries both mass-energy and a controllable information content.

Key properties include an intrinsic information capacity, a discrete state space, and the ability to participate in correlations and entanglement with other àtoms in a manner similar to quantum systems. Interactions between àtoms are described by rules that tie physical interactions to information-theoretic operations, offering a perspective where computation and physics are deeply linked.

Status and usage: The concept remains theoretical and unconfirmed by experiment. It appears in thought experiments, as a didactic device to explore questions about the relationship between information and matter, and in some fiction that explores future technologies or alternative physics. It should be viewed as a speculative construct rather than established physics.

Related topics include atoms, quantum information, and emergent phenomena.