Rendering Coherent Scattering via Quantum Collision Models
For computer graphics researchers, this work proposes a novel method to render materials with non-static, coherent optical properties, though the practical impact is limited by reliance on near-term quantum hardware.
The paper introduces a shading framework that integrates quantum collision models with classical ray-tracing to render materials with dynamically evolving optical properties, enabling the simulation of coherent light-matter interactions and chaotic optical responses. The approach allows pre-computation of BSDFs using near-term quantum computers.
Traditional light rendering techniques treat the optical properties of materials as static, yet this assumption breaks down in cases where these properties dynamically evolve in response to incident illumination. We present a novel shading framework that combines classical ray-tracing with a quantum collision model to explore the effect of coherent light-matter interactions in rendering. By treating incident light and material excitations as quantized modes, we model sub-surface scattering as a sequence of symmetry-constrained unitary collisions. This formulation allows for the incorporation of non-integrable dynamics and chaotic optical responses due to multi-layer interference effects. We demonstrate how these collision operators can be pre-computed using near-term quantum computers to generate standard BSDFs, enabling the rendering of new physics-inspired materials with distinct optical signatures.