Special relativity violation using entanglement

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of entanglement in quantum mechanics, specifically addressing a proposed scenario that suggests faster-than-light communication might be possible. Participants explore the validity of a copying unitary operation on entangled states and its consequences on the no-cloning theorem.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a scenario involving an entangled Bell pair and a copying unitary that could allow Bob to determine Alice's measurement outcomes, suggesting a potential for faster-than-light communication.
  • Another participant points out that the proposed copying operation appears to violate the no-cloning theorem, which prohibits copying arbitrary quantum states.
  • A different participant clarifies that while the no-cloning theorem applies to arbitrary states, it may not apply to known orthogonal states, which could be copied.
  • Some participants suggest checking whether the copying unitary entangles the ancilla and Bob's qubit, potentially collapsing Bob's qubit upon measurement and affecting the entanglement.
  • A later reply confirms that the effect of the unitary on the entire system leads to a state that collapses upon measurement, thus destroying the entanglement, which seems to resolve the initial concern.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of the copying unitary and its compatibility with the no-cloning theorem. While some suggest it may lead to faster-than-light communication, others argue that the operation is flawed due to entanglement effects. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the validity of the initial claim.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the dependence on the definitions of states being copied and the assumptions regarding the nature of entanglement and measurement outcomes. The discussion does not resolve the implications of these factors on the proposed scenario.

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As I understand it, faster than light communication is not possible, but I have a specific example which concludes that it is and I'm trying to find the mistake.

The scheme uses two things
1) An entangled Bell pair ## | \phi \rangle = | 0 0 \rangle + | 1 1 \rangle## ( neglecting normalization )
2) The fact that orthogonal states can be distinguished.

To begin with ## |\phi\rangle ## is given to Alice and Bob each having a qubit.

Bob has in his positions a copying unitary that can copy states ## |0\rangle ## and ## |1\rangle ## to an ancillary qubit and he can then measure this qubit to distinguish them, explicitly the unitary is U = |0\rangle\langle 0 | \otimes |0\rangle\langle 0 | + | 1\rangle\langle 1 | \otimes | 1\rangle\langle 0 |

The unitary acts as, ## U|00\rangle = | 00\rangle## and ##U|10\rangle = | 11\rangle ## thus a measurement of the ancillary gives the state of the qubit in Bob's possession as long as it is either ##|0\rangle## or ##|1\rangle##.

Now suppose that Bob keeps applying ##U## and measuring the ancilla. The reduced density matrix on Bob's side is, ## \rho_b = \frac{1}{2} \left( |0\rangle\langle 0 | + | 1 \rangle\langle 1| \right) ##, the maximally mixed state.
So Bob will measure 0 half the time and 1 half the time. Hence he can determine that
##P(0) = 1/2## and ## P(1) = 1/2.##

Suppose now that Alice makes a measurement on her qubit giving either 0 or 1. The collapsed state
##| \phi^{\prime} \rangle ## is now ## | 00 \rangle ## or ## | 11 \rangle ## making Bob's state ## | 0 \rangle ## or ## | 1 \rangle ##.

Now as Bob keeps measuring, he will determine either,
##P(0) = 1 ## and ## P(1) = 0 ## or ##P(0) = 0## and ##P(1) = 1 ##

Hence asymptotically he can determine that Alice has made the measurement. So the information that a measurement has been made can be operationally determined by Bob even if he is light years away.
 
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mfb said:
Your copy looks like a violation of the no-cloning theorem.

The no cloning theorem states that you cannot build a unitary to copy an arbitrary state. However you can still create one that copies known orthogonal states.
 
Try checking if the copying unitary will entangle the ancilla and Bob's qubit,m so that after Bob's first measurement on the ancilla he will collapse his qubit.
 
atyy said:
Try checking if the copying unitary will entangle the ancilla and Bob's qubit,m so that after Bob's first measurement on the ancilla he will collapse his qubit.

Yes! This seems to be the answer. If you see the effect of the unitarty on the entire system,
(\mathbb{1}_A\otimes U_{BC}) ( \rho_{AB} \otimes |0\rangle\langle 0 |_C ) (\mathbb{1}_A\otimes U_{BC}^{\dagger}) = \frac{1}{2} (|000\rangle\langle 000| + |111\rangle\langle 111| ) and a measurement of Bob's ancilla collapses the state and destroys the entanglement. Thank you :)
 

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