Quantum entanglement, an intriguing aspect of quantum physics, allows particles to remain interconnected regardless of distance. This phenomenon was explored at new heights in 2023 when the ATLAS collaboration at the Large Hadron Collider observed entanglement between top quarks, marking a major advancement in understanding the universe’s fundamental forces.
This discovery, which extends to the highest energies studied, could reshape our understanding of quantum mechanics and its implications for the future of physics.
Quantum entanglement is a fascinating feature of quantum physics – the theory of the very small. If two particles are quantum-entangled, the state of one particle is tied to that of the other, no matter how far apart the particles are. This mind-bending phenomenon, which has no analog in classical physics, has been observed in a wide variety of systems and has found several important applications, such as quantum cryptography and quantum computing. In 2022, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger for groundbreaking experiments with entangled photons. These experiments confirmed the predictions for the manifestation of entanglement made by the late CERN theorist John Bell and pioneered quantum information science.
Breakthrough in Observing Entanglement at High Energies
Entanglement has remained largely unexplored at the high energies accessible at particle colliders such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In an article published on September 18 in Nature, the ATLAS collaboration reports how it succeeded in observing quantum entanglement at the LHC for the first time, between fundamental particles called top quarks and at the highest energies yet. First reported by ATLAS in September 2023 and since confirmed by two observations made by the CMS collaboration, this result has opened up a new perspective on the complex world of quantum physics.
“While particle physics is deeply rooted in quantum mechanics, the observation of quantum entanglement in a new particle system and at much higher energy than previously possible is remarkable,” says ATLAS spokesperson Andreas Hoecker. “It paves the way for new investigations into this fascinating phenomenon, opening up a rich menu of exploration as our data samples continue to grow.”
Methodology and Observations of Quantum Entanglement
The ATLAS and CMS teams observed quantum entanglement between a top quark and its antimatter counterpart. The observations are based on a recently proposed method to use pairs of top quarks produced at the LHC as a new system to study entanglement.
The top quark is the heaviest known fundamental particle. It normally decays into other particles before it has time to combine with other quarks, transferring its spin and other quantum traits to its decay particles. Physicists observe and use these decay products to infer the top quark’s spin orientation.
To observe entanglement between top quarks, the ATLAS and CMS collaborations selected pairs of top quarks from data from proton–proton collisions that took place at an energy of 13 teraelectronvolts during the second run of the LHC, between 2015 and 2018. In particular, they looked for pairs in which the two quarks are simultaneously produced with low particle momentum relative to each other. This is where the spins of the two quarks are expected to be strongly entangled.
The existence and degree of spin entanglement can be inferred from the angle between the directions in which the electrically charged decay products of the two quarks are emitted. By measuring these angular separations and correcting for experimental effects that could alter the measured values, the ATLAS and CMS teams each observed spin entanglement between top quarks with a statistical significance larger than five standard deviations.
Implications and Future Research in Quantum Physics
In its second study, the CMS collaboration also looked for pairs of top quarks in which the two quarks are simultaneously produced with high momentum relative to each other. In this domain, for a large fraction of top quark pairs, the relative positions and times of the two top quark decays are predicted to be such that classical exchange of information by particles traveling at no more than the speed of light is excluded, and CMS observed spin entanglement between top quarks also in this case.
“With measurements of entanglement and other quantum concepts in a new particle system and at an energy range beyond what was previously accessible, we can test the Standard Model of particle physics in new ways and look for signs of new physics that may lie beyond it,” says CMS spokesperson Patricia McBride.
Reference: “Observation of quantum entanglement with top quarks at the ATLAS detector” by The ATLAS Collaboration, 18 September 2024, Nature.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07824-z
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9 Comments
Ask the researchers to think deeply:
1. What exactly did you observe in the experiment?
2. What is the rigor of science?
3. What does your top quark explain to you?
4. What do you mean by particles traveling at no more than the speed of light?
5. How do you understand the speed of light?
and so on.
Scientific research guided by correct theories can help humanity avoid detours, failures, and pomposity. Please witness the exemplary collaboration between theoretical physicists and experimentalists ( https://scitechdaily.com/microscope-spacecrafts-most-precise-test-of-key-component-of-the-theory-of-general-relativity/#comment-854286 ).
My ruthless repetition may make some people unhappy, but in order to fight against rampant pseudoscience, I can only do so.
Is proof needing… all top quarks are the same top quarks if there is no if; or there was no if in the first place. Really. What stops the if? Same? Fundamentally far or fundamentally same?
VERY GOOD.
Please continue to witness the dirtiest and ugliest era of scientific and humanistic development in the history of human society. If you don’t believe it, you can browse https://scitechdaily.com/microscope-spacecrafts-most-precise-test-of-key-component-of-the-theory-of-general-relativity/#comment-854286, and continue leaving YOUR comments for it.
A real breakthrough will be when the damn thing starts turning profit.
A experiment that uses exotic particles that collide at the speed of light has shown more data for metamaterials rather than investigating the strong force that forms particle’s, if that’s what the goal is ?
Physics is just so interesting. The physical phenomena observed by researchers in experiments are always appearances, never the natural essence of things. The natural essence of things needs to be extracted and sublimated based on mathematical theories via appearances , rather than being imagined arbitrarily.
Theoretical basis:
(1) Traditional physics: based on mathematical formalism, experimental verification and arbitrary imagination.
(2) Topological Vortex Theory: Although also based on mathematics (such as topology), it focuses more on non intuitive geometry and topological structures, challenging traditional physical intuition.
Extension of the Standard Model: Topological Vortex Theory points out the limitations of the Standard Model in describing the large-scale structure of the universe, proposes the need to consider non-standard model components such as dark matter and dark energy, and suggests that topological vortex fields may be key to understanding these phenomena.
Topological vortex theory heralds innovative technologies such as topological electronics, topological smart batteries, topological quantum computing, etc., which may bring low-energy electronic components, almost inexhaustible currents, and revolutionary computing platforms, etc.
Topology tells us that topological vortices and antivortices can form new spacetime structures via the synchronous effect of superposition, deflection, or twisting of them. Mathematics does not tell us that there must be God particles, ghost particles, fermions, or bosons present. Today, so-called official in physics stubbornly believes that two sets of cobalt-60 rotating in opposite directions can become two sets of objects that mirror each other, is a typical case of rampant and domineering pseudoscience. Please witness the exemplary collaboration between theoretical physicists and experimentalists ( https://scitechdaily.com/microscope-spacecrafts-most-precise-test-of-key-component-of-the-theory-of-general-relativity/#comment-854286 ).
Let us continue to witness together the dirtiest and ugliest era in the scientific and humanistic history of human society.
The laws of nature will not change due to misleading of so-called academic publications.
Ooo I love your questions!!! Can hardly wait for the answers…
Can two people be intertwined same as entanglement of quantum mechanics through thoughts and space time.? Every one is looking for quarks , murks, murons the God particle. We are all made from the same elements in space so why would it be not possible to have a connection similar to what is being tested in Sweden.