I Quantum Entanglement and Synchronization

[James Hasty]

TL;DR Summary

Can Quantum Entanglement be used as a means to Synchronize Clocks?

Given two quantum entangled particles A and B, let each be located inside one of two identical clocks. Let each clock be set to zero time the instant either particle A or B is measured or changes state. Could this mechanism be utilized to synchronize the clocks?

 

[James Hasty]

Evidently this has been proven possible. See the following article:

Tang, BY., Tian, M., Chen, H. et al. Demonstration of 75 km-fiber quantum clock synchronization in quantum entanglement distribution network. EPJ Quantum Technol. 10, 50 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-023-00207-9

 

[pines-demon]

TL;DR Summary: Can Quantum Entanglement be used as a means to Synchronize Clocks?

Given two quantum entangled particles A and B, let each be located inside one of two identical clocks. Let each clock be set to zero time the instant either particle A or B is measured or changes state. Could this mechanism be utilized to synchronize the clocks?

No, that would require faster than light signaling. This is not possible.

 

[PeroK]

Evidently this has been proven possible. See the following article:

Tang, BY., Tian, M., Chen, H. et al. Demonstration of 75 km-fiber quantum clock synchronization in quantum entanglement distribution network. EPJ Quantum Technol. 10, 50 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-023-00207-9

The mechanism described there is not what you propose in your original post.

 

[PeroK]

TL;DR Summary: Can Quantum Entanglement be used as a means to Synchronize Clocks?

Given two quantum entangled particles A and B, let each be located inside one of two identical clocks. Let each clock be set to zero time the instant either particle A or B is measured or changes state. Could this mechanism be utilized to synchronize the clocks?

I guess your idea is to measure A and simultaneously B "changes state", which is instantly observed by clock B.

That misunderstands quantum entanglement. There is no way to know by observing B when A has been measured.

 

[Nugatory]

Given two quantum entangled particles A and B, let each be located inside one of two identical clocks. Let each clock be set to zero time the instant either particle A or B is measured or changes state. Could this mechanism be utilized to synchronize the clocks?

No. There is no way of distinguishing a so-called collapsed state from an uncollapsed state (the “so-called” is there because even trying to make that distinction betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the theory). All we know is the time that we made our measurement, and with our result we can predict the result at the other end when and if that measurement is made (and for all we know, it has been already made).

 

[James Hasty]

Thank you all for your replies.