- #1
Drewbeenius
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Allow me to create a scenario and ask questions first, then subsequently make an admission of ignorance.
Assume we create a device (the source or repeater) that produces two beams of entangled photons at a steady, pulsing rate. Each beam is focused on a target at a far-away station. The source and stations are not moving relative to one another. Each station has an operator who knows the rate of pulses.
One station is closer to the source than the other. This closer station is active. After tuning the target to locate the pulse, the operator moves the target aside, allowing pulses to pass normally. Now, the operator can choose to move the target to catch (absorb) a pulse.
The further station is just a receiver, and the operator simply observes each pulse.
This is intended to be a one-way, discrete communication device. The active station is the message sender. A two-way device could involve two sources, each source closer to a different station, and two targets at each station.
Question 1) If the active operator chooses to catch a pulse, does that interrupt the pulse that would arrive at the receiver station?
Question 2) If yes to Q1, could this be used for faster than light (FTL) communication?
Question 3) If no to Q1, why not?
Question 4) If yes to Q1 and no to Q2, why not?
Admissions of Ignorance
* You may notice I do not know much about quantum entanglement. I am trying to learn.
* I wonder if there are inherent contradictions in my assumed scenario.
* Notice I am not trying to measure particular properties of the entangled photon, rather just its arrival at the receiver target.
* One key assumption of mine is that absorbing a photon has an instantaneous affect on the entangled pair, be it annihilation or significant alteration.
Assume we create a device (the source or repeater) that produces two beams of entangled photons at a steady, pulsing rate. Each beam is focused on a target at a far-away station. The source and stations are not moving relative to one another. Each station has an operator who knows the rate of pulses.
One station is closer to the source than the other. This closer station is active. After tuning the target to locate the pulse, the operator moves the target aside, allowing pulses to pass normally. Now, the operator can choose to move the target to catch (absorb) a pulse.
The further station is just a receiver, and the operator simply observes each pulse.
This is intended to be a one-way, discrete communication device. The active station is the message sender. A two-way device could involve two sources, each source closer to a different station, and two targets at each station.
Question 1) If the active operator chooses to catch a pulse, does that interrupt the pulse that would arrive at the receiver station?
Question 2) If yes to Q1, could this be used for faster than light (FTL) communication?
Question 3) If no to Q1, why not?
Question 4) If yes to Q1 and no to Q2, why not?
Admissions of Ignorance
* You may notice I do not know much about quantum entanglement. I am trying to learn.
* I wonder if there are inherent contradictions in my assumed scenario.
* Notice I am not trying to measure particular properties of the entangled photon, rather just its arrival at the receiver target.
* One key assumption of mine is that absorbing a photon has an instantaneous affect on the entangled pair, be it annihilation or significant alteration.