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Is A Single Particle Always Entangled?

Shengwang Du

Published Apr 5, 2023• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We investigate the single-particle multi-mode "entanglement" and raise the questions: Is a single particle always entangled? Is entanglement a physical reality which is invariant under an arbitrary unitary transformation or choice of mode basis? We show that, if accepting the single-particle entanglement picture, a single particle can always be entangled by choosing a proper mode basis. This "mode entanglement", expressed as a superposition of single-particle mode basis, may have important applications in quantum information processing as it has some similar mathematical features as the multi-particle entanglement.

DOI
10.1364/opticaopen.22557619

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We investigate the single-particle multi-mode "entanglement" and raise the questions: Is a single particle always entangled? Is entanglement a physical reality which is invariant under an arbitrary unitary transformation or choice of mode basis? We show that, if accepting the single-particle entanglement picture, a single particle can always be entangled by choosing a proper mode basis. This "mode entanglement", expressed as a superposition of single-particle mode basis, may have important applications in quantum information processing as it has some similar mathematical features as the multi-particle entanglement.
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This paper explores the formal structure and philosophical implications of polarization-path entanglement in quantum optics, where different degrees of freedom of a single photon become entangled. We examine the mathematical conditions under which coherence is preserved or lost, emphasizing the role of distinguishability and information flow. The analysis is situated within major interpretational frameworks (including Copenhagen, Many-Worlds, QBism, and Bohmian mechanics) to evaluate whether such entanglement reflects physical reality or epistemic constraints. Finally, we discuss experimental realizations, relevance to quantum information processing, and open conceptual questions regarding the ontological status of single-particle entanglement.
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I give a simple argument that demonstrates that the state $\ensuremath{\mid}0⟩\ensuremath{\mid}1⟩+\ensuremath{\mid}1⟩\ensuremath{\mid}0⟩$, with $\ensuremath{\mid}0⟩$ denoting a state with 0 particles (or photons) and $\ensuremath{\mid}1⟩$ a one-particle state, is entangled in spite of recent claims to the contrary. I also discuss viewpoints on the old controversy about whether the above state can be said to display single-particle or single-photon nonlocality.