How Would Electron Entanglement Affect Photon Emission

In summary, if two electrons in the same quantum state are spin entangled and absorb a pair of photons, the resulting photons would also be entangled with each other and with the electrons. The effect on their spin and polarization would depend on the specific scenario and how the photons interact with the entangled state of the electrons. It is not possible to determine the exact outcome without more information about the scenario. Additionally, photons cannot be entangled via spin, but rather through polarization, although the terms "spin-entangled" and "polarization-entangled" are essentially equivalent.
  • #1
Strange_matter
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Suppose you have a pair of electrons in the same quantum state, and are thus spin entangled, and they absorb a pair of photons and release them at the same time. How would this affect the photons? Would the photons be entangled? Would it affect the photon spin, and if so, how would it affect the photon polarization? On a related note, why can't photons be entangled via spin, but rather polarization, or is saying they are spin- or polarization-entangled, essentially the same?
 
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  • #2
Strange_matter said:
...why can't photons be entangled via spin, but rather polarization, or is saying they are spin- or polarization-entangled, essentially the same?

Essentially the same. Photons are spin-1 particles.
 
  • #3
Would being emitted from spin entangled electrons affect their spin? Would the photons be polarization-entangled?
 
  • #4
Strange_matter said:
Suppose you have a pair of electrons in the same quantum state, and are thus spin entangled, and they absorb a pair of photons and release them at the same time. How would this affect the photons? Would the photons be entangled?

I think the resulting photons would be entangled with each other and also with the two electrons. Not sure about polarization.
 
  • #5
You need to give far more detail on the scenario you've proposed. All you said is:
Strange_matter said:
Suppose you have a pair of electrons in the same quantum state, and are thus spin entangled, and they absorb a pair of photons and release them at the same time
How do they absorb them? You've only specified their initial state, but by absorbing two photons they've presumably gone to some excited state(s) and back. The resulting physics depends very strongly on how the photons couple to this entangled state and what their intermediate state (and its coupling to the photon) is.
 
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Likes Nugatory

1. What is electron entanglement?

Electron entanglement is a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where two or more electrons are connected in a way that their properties become correlated and dependent on each other, regardless of the distance between them.

2. How does electron entanglement affect photon emission?

When two or more electrons are entangled, their properties become linked, including their spin and energy levels. This means that if one electron emits a photon, the other entangled electron will also emit a photon with the same properties, regardless of the distance between them.

3. Can electron entanglement be used to control photon emission?

Yes, electron entanglement can be used to control photon emission by manipulating the properties of the entangled electrons. This can be done by applying external fields or using quantum gates to change the spin and energy levels of the electrons, which in turn will affect the properties of the emitted photons.

4. How would electron entanglement affect photon emission in real-life applications?

In real-life applications, electron entanglement can be used to improve the efficiency and security of communication systems, such as quantum encryption. It can also be used in quantum computing for faster information processing and in sensitive measurements, such as detecting gravitational waves.

5. Are there any challenges or limitations to using electron entanglement for controlling photon emission?

While electron entanglement has great potential for various applications, there are some challenges and limitations that need to be overcome. One of the main challenges is maintaining the entanglement for a long enough time, as it can easily be disrupted by external interactions. Additionally, the process of entangling electrons can be complex and resource-intensive, making it difficult to scale up for large-scale applications.

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