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Physics Encyclopedia Entry 1777355464

** **Quantum Entanglement** is a fundamental concept in **quantum mechanics** that describes the interconnectedness of particles at the subatomic level, where the state of one particle is instantaneously affected by the state of another, regardless of distance. ## Overview Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon that has fascinated physicists and philosophers alike for decades. At its core, entanglement is a property of **quantum systems**, where two or more particles become correlated in such a way that the state of one particle cannot be described independently of the others. This means that if something happens to one particle, it instantly affects the state of the other entangled particles, regardless of the distance between them. The concept of entanglement was first proposed by **Albert Einstein**, **Boris Podolsky**, and **Nathan Rosen** in 1935, as a thought experiment to demonstrate the apparent absurdity of **quantum mechanics**. However, it wasn't until the 1960s that the phenomenon was experimentally confirmed by **John Bell** and **Claude Neron de Surgy**. Since then, entanglement has been extensively studied and has become a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics. ## History/Background The concept of entanglement was first introduced by Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen in their famous paper "Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality be Considered Complete?" (1935). They proposed a thought experiment, known as the EPR paradox, which involved two particles that were created in such a way that their properties were correlated. They argued that if the state of one particle was measured, the state of the other particle would be instantaneously affected, regardless of the distance between them. However, it wasn't until the 1960s that the phenomenon was experimentally confirmed by Bell and Neron de Surgy. They performed a series of experiments that demonstrated the existence of entanglement, and their results were published in a paper titled "On the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox" (1964). Since then, entanglement has been extensively studied, and it has been experimentally confirmed in numerous experiments. ## Key Information Quantum entanglement is a fundamental property of quantum systems, and it has several key features: * **Correlation**: Entangled particles are correlated in such a way that the state of one particle cannot be described independently of the others. * **Non-locality**: Entangled particles can be separated by arbitrary distances, and the state of one particle is instantly affected by the state of the other. * **Quantum superposition**: Entangled particles can exist in a superposition of states, which means that they can have multiple properties simultaneously. * **Entanglement swapping**: Entangled particles can be connected through a third particle, which allows for the transfer of entanglement between particles. ## Significance Quantum entanglement has several significant implications for our understanding of the universe: * **Quantum computing**: Entanglement is a key resource for quantum computing, as it allows for the creation of quantum gates and the implementation of quantum algorithms. * **Quantum cryptography**: Entanglement is used in quantum cryptography to create secure communication channels. * **Quantum teleportation**: Entanglement is used in quantum teleportation to transfer information from one particle to another without physical transport of the particles. * **Fundamental understanding**: Entanglement has challenged our understanding of space and time, and it has led to a deeper understanding of the nature of reality. INFOBOX: - **Name:** Quantum Entanglement - **Type:** Quantum Phenomenon - **Date:** 1935 (EPR paradox), 1964 (Bell and Neron de Surgy experiment) - **Location:** Theoretical (quantum systems) - **Known For:** Instantaneous correlation between particles, non-locality, and quantum superposition. TAGS: **Quantum Mechanics**, **Quantum Entanglement**, **Non-Locality**, **Quantum Superposition**, **Entanglement Swapping**, **Quantum Computing**, **Quantum Cryptography**, **Quantum Teleportation**, **EPR Paradox**.