The discussion revolves around the concept of particle entanglement, specifically addressing whether all types of particles can be entangled, the possibility of entangling more than two particles, and the methods of achieving entanglement. The scope includes theoretical considerations and implications of entanglement in quantum mechanics.
Participants express multiple competing views regarding the nature and implications of entanglement, with no consensus reached on whether the concept should be applied universally or contextually.
Limitations include the dependence on definitions of entanglement, the ambiguity surrounding initial conditions, and the unresolved nature of interactions that lead to entanglement.
rpthomps said:Can all types of particles be entangled? Do they have to be the same (electron/electron, etc.)
Can more than two be entangled?
How do you entangle in the first place?
Yes. Even when initially unentangled, any interaction between two particles will immediately lead to entanglement.rpthomps said:Can all types of particles be entangled?
Yes, that's technically true even in situations where that entanglement consists of nothing more than conservation rules. But is it then fair to say that they were not entangled prior to interaction when the conservation rules still applied? Or how about forward elastic scattering of spinless particles where no particle changes its state? In fact, if they were some long term consequence of some primeval "big bang" (or many worlds history) then were they not already entangled by previous interaction -- however insignificant that entanglement may be for their state prior to interaction?A. Neumaier said:Yes. Even when initially unentangled, any interaction between two particles will immediately lead to entanglement.
mikeyork said:It seems to me we are left with a choice of either (1) employ the very general idea that everything is entangled with everything else (which seems redundant for QM)
The end of loneliness. How so very zen.StevieTNZ said:From the various Professors of Physics (including Professors of Philosophy, specialising in Philosophy of Physics) I've written to about this, as well as information in different books, they've all stated everything is entangled with everything else.
This is indeed the case, unless you prepare special initial conditions for a few degrees of freedom to which the discussion is restricted, and you ensure that, for some time, these are preserved by the interaction. Thus there is almost no freedom to choose.mikeyork said:1) employ the very general idea that everything is entangled with everything else