Quantum Entanglement: Information faster than the speed of light?
Quantum Entanglement is a phenomenon that is now moving from being mostly a gleam in a few scientist’s eyes, into the realm of reality, in a myriad of fields such as quantum computing. As time goes on, we will not only find more profound practical applications for this fascinating occurrence, we might even transform the way we exchange information in the future!
Quantum entanglement is the phenomenon where the state of two particles is related - such as a system containing a pair of photons where one has a spin-up, and the other spin-down. The interesting effect is that the two particles stay embraced in a perpetual tango, even when they moved far apart. When the spin of one particle is changed, the other instantaneously flips its spin so that the overall spin is conserved, and the universe is whole again.
In 2003, in one of those poetic and dramatic experiments, scientists tested entanglement across the Danube river in a Quantum Teleportation experiment, and showed that the particles can be separated by 600 meters and still stay entangled. Since then the phenomenon has been demonstrated in up to 100 kilometers of optic fiber.
So what does this mean? The most important implication is the almost “instantaneous” transfer of information over large distances.
Although the experiment seems to suggest that knowledge of the state of the particles is being exchanged instantaneously, the information cannot, however, be transmitted faster than the speed of light, upholding the theory of causality ie cause and effect, where the effect must always follow the cause, and not the other way around.
On a different, and somewhat amusing note, this morning it was reported that a company called Steorn has invented a “device” that supposedly “produces free, clean and constant energy - without recourse to external source”. Just what we need to solve the world’s power crisis!
Move over Perpetual motion machines - your new green competition is here!!
Tags : 11, Opinion, Technology
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