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Entanglement

Short answer: In quantum mechanics, entangled particles share a single quantum state, so measurements on them are correlated no matter how far apart they are. The correlations appear instantly, but they cannot be used to send information faster than light.

Albert Einstein, who doubted the idea, called it 'spooky action at a distance.' Experiments have repeatedly confirmed entanglement, work recognized by the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics.

VideoWrite-up2 sources

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What should you know about Entanglement?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Entangled particles share a quantum state.

    DD-080-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Shared state)

  2. Measurements are correlated at any distance.

    DD-080-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Correlated)

Video transcript: Entanglement: Entangled Particles Stay Correlated However Far Apart They Are

Did you know, in quantum mechanics, particles can become entangled, which means the state of one particle is directly related to the state of another, regardless of the distance between them. Okay, here's why this is really cool. This connection seems to occur instantaneously, even faster than the speed of light. Even if entangled particles are separated by vast distances, changing the state of one particle will instantaneously influence the state of the entangled partner. This phenomenon challenges our classical understanding of cause and effect, and has been famously referred to by Albert Einstein as, spooky action at a distance. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 37.3s Reel ·

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Entanglement: Entangled Particles Stay Correlated However Far Apart They Are Instagram Reel · · 37.3s

The write-up

Entangled particles stay correlated however far apart they are. Einstein called it 'spooky action at a distance.'

  1. Exhibit A

    Shared state

    Entangled particles share a quantum state.

  2. Exhibit B

    Correlated

    Measurements are correlated at any distance.

  3. Exhibit C

    No signaling

    It cannot send information faster than light.

  4. Exhibit D

    Spooky

    Einstein called it spooky action.

  5. Exhibit E

    Nobel

    Entanglement experiments won the 2022 Nobel.

Questions people ask about Entanglement

What do entangled particles share?

One state.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Shared state) · Wikipedia: Quantum entanglement

Does distance break the correlation?

Any distance.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Correlated) · Wikipedia: Quantum entanglement

Can it send messages faster than light?

No signaling.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (No signaling) · Wikipedia: Quantum entanglement

What did Einstein call it?

He was skeptical.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Spooky) · Wikipedia: Quantum entanglement

Which year's Nobel honored this work?

Aspect, Clauser and Zeilinger.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Nobel) · NobelPrize.org: The Nobel Prize in Physics 2022

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What do entangled particles share?

    1. A quantum state
    2. A charge only
    3. A color
    4. A mass
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A quantum state One state. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Shared state) · Wikipedia: Quantum entanglement

  2. Does distance break the correlation?

    1. No
    2. Yes
    3. Only over 1 km
    4. Only in water
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. No Any distance. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Correlated) · Wikipedia: Quantum entanglement

  3. Can it send messages faster than light?

    1. No
    2. Yes
    3. Only in space
    4. Only at night
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. No No signaling. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (No signaling) · Wikipedia: Quantum entanglement

  4. What did Einstein call it?

    1. Spooky action at a distance
    2. Quantum magic
    3. The ghost effect
    4. Twin light
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Spooky action at a distance He was skeptical. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Spooky) · Wikipedia: Quantum entanglement

  5. Which year's Nobel honored this work?

    1. 2022
    2. 1921
    3. 1965
    4. 2000
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 2022 Aspect, Clauser and Zeilinger. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Nobel) · NobelPrize.org: The Nobel Prize in Physics 2022

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Entanglement." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-080, last updated Nov 14, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/entanglement/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/entanglement/ · Last updated

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