Multiparticle quantum entanglement (QE) and its dynamical properties are in the focus of several experimental and theoretical fields of modern physics and engineering (e.g., quantum optics, quantum computation, quantum cryptography, and teleportation). This is due to the potential applicability of QE for quantum computers and quantum information technology. If the quantum entangled particles are sufficiently isolated from their environment, coherence can persist for long times and quantum phenomena are revealed. However, under realistic conditions, the entangled objects are continuously interacting with their environment. Thus, coherence is lost and classicality emerges. This process is called decoherence [1] and represents the main problem for the realization of a quantum computer.
Multiparticle quantum entanglement (QE) and its dynamical properties are in the focus of several experimental and theoretical fields of modern physics and engineering (e.g., quantum optics, quantum computation, quantum cryptography, and teleportation). This is due to the potential applicability of QE for quantum computers and quantum information technology. If the quantum entangled particles are sufficiently isolated from their environment, coherence can persist for long times and quantum phenomena are revealed. However, under realistic conditions, the entangled objects are continuously interacting with their environment. Thus, coherence is lost and classicality emerges. This process is called decoherence [1] and represents the main problem for the realization of a quantum computer.
Several recent observations of closely spaced hydrogen nuclei in condensed matter systems — water, polymers and metal hydrides — indicate that they cannot be considered as independent quantum objects when observed over very short time intervals. According to these measurements, pairs (or possibly small clusters) of protons or deuterons seem to be quantum correlated, and are able to preserve their mutual quantum phase relations over times of the order of femtoseconds even in strongly perturbing liquid or solid environments. These new experimental results are mainly based on scattering of neutrons with time windows in the atto- and femtosecond range, but there also exists corroborating evidence from other spectroscopies. When the width of the observational time window is increased above a characteristic value, the quantum coherence effects are seen to disappear. This time limit marks the onset of decoherence as the mutual phase relations between the particles are gradually lost. Possible reasons for short-time entanglement of nuclei in condensed matter systems, as well as mechanisms for its decoherence will be discussed.
Nuclei and electrons in condensed matter and/or molecules are usually entangled, due to the prevailing electromagnetic interactions. Usually, the “environment” of a microscopic scattering system (e.g., a proton) causes an ultrafast decoherence, thus making atomic and/or nuclear entanglement effects not directly accessible to experiments. However, neutron Compton scattering (NCS) and electron Compton scattering represent ultrafast techniques operating in the sub-femtosecond timescale, thus opening a way for investigation of such dehoherence and short-lived entanglement phenomena of atoms in molecules and condensed matter. The experimental context of NCS and a new striking scattering effect from protons (H-atoms) in several condensed systems and molecules are described. In short, one observes an “anomalous” decrease of scattering intensity from protons, which seem to become partially “invisible” to the neutrons. The experiments apply large energy (several electronvolts) and momentum (10–200 Å −1 transfers, and the collisional (or scattering) time between the neutron and a struck proton is only 100–1000 attoseconds long. Similar results are also obtained with electron-atom Compton scattering at large momentum transfers. As an example, we present new NCS experimental results from a single crystal, which also provide new physical insights into the attosecond quantum dynamics of protons in molecules and condensed matter. Theoretical discussions and models are presented which show that the effect under consideration is caused by the non-unitary time evolution (due to decoherence) of open quantum systems during the ultrashort, but finite, time-window of the neutron-proton scattering process. The conceptual connection with the well known Quantum Zeno Effect is pointed out. The experimental results, together with their qualitative interpretation “from first principles,” show that epithermal neutrons being available at spallation sources, and electron spectrometers providing large momentum transfers, may represent novel tools for investigation of thus far unknown physical and chemical attosecond phenomena.
In general, nuclei and electrons in condensed matter and/or molecules are entangled, due to the prevailing (electromagnetic) interactions. As a matter of fact, the "environment" interacting with a microscopic system of interest (e.g. a proton) causes the destruction of the entanglement. This process, called decoherence, has until now prevented experimenters from directly accessing atomic and/or nuclear entanglement effects in real experiments. However, our neutron and electron Compton scattering experiments from protons (H-atoms) in several condensed systems and molecules at ambient conditions demonstrated a new striking effect, i.e. an "anomalous" decrease of scattering intensity from protons, which seem to become partially "invisible" to the neutrons. This effect, which has no interpretation within conventional neutron scattering theory, is proposed to be caused by the non-unitary time evolution (due to decoherence) during the ultrashort, but finite, time-window of the neutron-proton scattering process. Due to the large energy (several eV) and momentum (20-200 Å −1 ) transfers of these experiments the collisional time between the probe particle and a struck proton is 100–1000 attoseconds long. It is shown that, due to this short timescale, the scattering process must be theoretically treated within quantum dynamics of open quantum systems. New experimental neutron Compton scattering results from a single crystal KHCO 3 are presented. They provide the first direct evidence for a connection between the momentum distribution and the "anomalous" scattering intensity of H. Additionally, recent experiments with electron-atom Compton scattering at momentum transfers are mentioned, which reveal the presence of this effect even in scattering from single H 2 molecules in the gas phase. Theoretical discussions "from first principles" are presented, also in relation to the quantum Zeno effect, which underline the crucial role of decoherence in the considered experiments. The experimental results and their qualitative interpretation show that epithermal neutrons being available at spallation sources (e.g. ISIS/UK, SNS/USA or ESS/Sweden), and electron spectrometers with large scattering angles, provide tools for investigating new physical and chemical phenomena in the sub-femtosecond timescale.
Abstract Quantum entanglement is a basic ingredient in the formalism of quantum mechanics and was held by Heisenberg as its most emblematic feature. But although all its consequences could be foreseen from the start, it took half a century before experiments were carried out to test its more intriguing predictions. One reason was that sufficiently sensitive tools, like lasers, were not yet available, but there was also a lack of interest and imagination among theoreticians, who did not realize its full potential. When experiments were finally realized and opened a ‘weird and ghostlike quantum world’, they were first met with surprise and doubt. In the first experiments on entanglement it was purposely created (using chain-decays or down-conversion), but entanglement is actually a ubiquitous phenomenon appearing in most physical processes, although surviving over so short time-scales that it is usually not observed. The present work deals with ‘measurement-induced entanglement’ in scattering, and starts with a process where its effects can actually be studied in the sub-femtosecond range in a time-resolved manner, the Compton scattering of neutrons. Based on results from this method, the conditions for observing similar effects in other scattering processes are discussed. First, the mechanisms for entanglement creation by a scattering particle are mentioned, then the conditions for observing measurable consequences of it on scattering cross-sections: a very limited number of scattering centers, large zero-point motions of the scatterers and no strong interaction with environment which leads to decoherence.
A fundamental concept in quantum mechanics, quantum entanglement describes a one-of-a-kind occurrence in which two particles, separated by physical distance, become physically connected so that the states of one particle can instantly affect the states of the other. Quantum entanglement has both theoretical and practical consequences for communication and information processing, which are explored in this study. This article explores the latest developments in quantum cryptography, quantum teleportation, and quantum computing, focusing on how these technologies have the ability to transform communication networks, computational speed, and data security. While outlining potential future research directions, the report delves into issues including scalability and decoherence. This manuscript uses entanglement to highlight its revolutionary impact on the development of scientific and technological frontiers.