Is there any practical proof that quantum entanglement really works?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the practical proof of quantum entanglement and its implications, exploring whether it can be observed in real-time experiments and the nature of measurement correlations in quantum mechanics. The scope includes theoretical considerations, conceptual clarifications, and experimental perspectives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the possibility of observing quantum entanglement in real-time using cameras positioned a short distance apart.
  • Others argue that video representation of quantum particles is not feasible due to the nature of quantum mechanics, which differs fundamentally from classical models.
  • A participant suggests that measuring an entangled particle can create a random number that correlates with the measurement of its partner, implying instantaneous effects.
  • There is a discussion about the nature of quantum measurement, with some noting that outcomes do not exist prior to measurement, contrasting with classical expectations.
  • Some participants express confusion about the implications of entanglement and measurement, questioning how information could be transmitted if entanglement is disrupted by measurement.
  • Visual representations, such as analogies with classical systems, are mentioned as helpful for understanding quantum phenomena.
  • Concerns are raised about the relativity of measurement order in different frames of reference, complicating the understanding of entangled particles.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no consensus on the feasibility of observing entanglement in real-time or the implications of measurement on entangled states. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the nature of correlations and the potential for faster-than-light communication.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on definitions of measurement outcomes, the complexity of quantum mechanics versus classical physics, and the unresolved nature of how entanglement and measurement interact.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring quantum mechanics, particularly in understanding the nuances of entanglement, measurement, and the challenges of visualizing quantum phenomena.

  • #31
leonid.ge said:
Suppose there is a new law: if measuring spin +1, then Biden will be president, otherwise Trump... you instantly know that Biden won. So you got information about who became president faster than speed of light.
Supposed there is a new law passed that on election day a box is opened. If it contains a left shoe, Biden is elected and if it contains a right shoe, Trump is elected. The mating shoe is placed in another box and sent far away. When it is opened, the people who opened it instantly know the results of the selection faster than the speed of light.

This should make it clear that what you wrote has nothing whatever to do with quantum mechanics.
 
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  • #32
Doh-dee-ohh-doh...

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  • #33
leonid.ge said:
Is there an experiment confirming that correlations work on really large distances such as from here to other stars?
The best experiments so far have been done across thousands of kilometers.

It’s hard to see how we could do such an experiment at interstellar distances, both because of the practical difficulties in setting up two detectors light-years apart and because we would need at least one of the particles to traverse that enormous distance without blundering into something (stray grain of dust, random molecule floating around, cosmic ray particle, ….) which would break the entanglement.

However, nothing in our current physics says that quantum mechanics wouldn’t work as expected if we could overcome these practical difficulties in an experiment. We might imagine theories that aren’t quantum mechanics and agree with QM at planetary scale but predict different results at interstellar scale - but with neither a candidate theory nor experimental evidence suggesting that QM is wrong this is a completely sterile exercise.
 
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