Is the study of black holes using entanglement practical?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the practicality of studying black holes through the lens of quantum entanglement. Participants explore the implications of entangled particles in relation to black holes, including the nature of information transmission and the effects observed on entangled particles when one partner falls into a black hole.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the feasibility of containing a particle in a quantum state without interference before sending it to a black hole.
  • It is noted that entanglement does not allow for the transmission of information, raising questions about the implications of one particle falling into a black hole.
  • Participants discuss what might happen to the particle on Earth when its entangled partner enters a black hole, with some expressing skepticism about expecting observable effects.
  • There is a mention of "spooky action at a distance," with some arguing that measurement results from both particles must be compared to observe any correlation.
  • Questions arise regarding whether the entangled particle falling into the black hole would ever pass through the event horizon from the perspective of an observer.
  • One participant suggests that the concept of the event horizon is complex, proposing scenarios where a particle could be placed at the center of a star before it collapses or where additional mass could affect the event horizon's position.
  • Clarifications are made about the nature of "spooky action at a distance," emphasizing that while measurements of entangled particles are correlated, this does not imply that moving one particle will cause a corresponding movement in the other.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the implications of entanglement in relation to black holes, with no consensus reached on the practicality or observable effects of such studies.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include uncertainties regarding the containment of quantum states, the interpretation of event horizons, and the nature of information transfer in entangled systems.

pinkumbra
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That is, entangling two particles and sending one off in a controlled manner (i'm not sure if we're sophisticated enough to even contain a particle in a quantum state without interference so please fill me in) to a black hole and then observing the entangled particle that we kept in some lab on Earth.
 
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The thing with entanglement, is that it still doesn't transmit information.
 
So what would happen to the particle on Earth when its entangled partner dives in a black hole?
 
Why would you expect something to happen?
 
If the particles are entangled, isn't there "spooky action at a distance" in that if you act on one, the other instantaneously is affected before they lose their quantum state?
 
The affection is spooky in the sense that you need to compare measurement results from *both* particles to see it.
 
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Will the entangled particle falling into the black hole ever pass completely through the event horizon relative to the observer's frame of reference?
 
At first you'd think not, but then "event horizon" is a funny concept: no reason the particle can't be placed at the centre of a star before it collapses (or else just send significantly more mass after the particle so that, in the distant observer's frame, the event horizon moves further out and encompasses the particle). So that isn't the problem.
 
spooky action at a distance doesn't mean if you move one particle it will move the other. It just means that if you measure both particle's independently they will have some guaranteed relation. For example, if you take two electrons in the ground state of an atom. They are both in the superposition state that is 50% spin up and 50% spin down. If you measure one electron to be spin up, the other one instantly becomes spin down. However, you can not transmit information this way.
 

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