Quantum Entanglement: Einstein's Spooky Action Explained
Entanglement is a quantum correlation between particles where measuring one instantly determines the other's state. Einstein called it 'spooky action' but it's fundamental to quantum computing and quantum communication.
What is Entanglement?
Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon where two or more particles become correlated such that measuring one instantly affects the other — regardless of distance.
Einstein called it "spooky action at a distance," but experiments have confirmed it's real.
The Bell State
The simplest entangled state is the Bell state:
|Ψ⟩ = (|00⟩ + |11⟩) / √2
This means both qubits are either 0 or 1 — but we don't know which until we measure.
Why It's Not Faster-Than-Light
While entanglement creates correlations, you can't use it to send information faster than light. The correlations only become apparent when you compare results classically.
References
- • Einstein, Podolsky, Rosen (1935)
- • Bell's Theorem (1964)
- • Nobel Prize 2022 — Aspect, Clauser, Zeilinger