Einstein And Entanglement
“Entanglement is not one but rather the characteristic trait of quantum
mechanics”. — Erwin Schrödinger
Albert Einstein’s relationship with quantum mechanics is indeed complex and pivotal in the history of physics. While he was one of the founding fathers of quantum theory, he famously had problems with it, mainly its indeterminism and entanglement.
Einstein’s debates with Niels Bohr epitomize the clash between two views on quantum mechanics. Bohr happily accepted the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and its implications, however, Einstein was not happy with it and was skeptical. Einstein famously remarked, “God does not play dice with the universe”. Conveying his discomfort with the randomness of quantum mechanics which opposes the deterministic nature of classical mechanics. Einstein’s challenge was mainly centered on entanglement, which explains a situation where the quantum states of two particles become interconnected such that the state of one instantaneously affects the state of the other, no matter the distance separating them. This phenomenon, which Einstein sarcastically called “spooky action at a distance,” challenged the notions of locality and reality in classical physics.
Bohr’s response to entanglement was mainly to uphold the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, which suggests that particles do not have definite properties until they are observed. Bohr accepted entanglement as a natural consequence of quantum mechanics without being irritated by its complex nature.
To explain all this stuff Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen came up with an argument that is now famously known as EPR, which stated that there must be “hidden variables” that determine the outcomes of measurements in a way that respects locality and causality. Locality means that an object in a system is only influenced by its immediate surroundings, whereas causality means that an effect cannot occur without a cause and that casual influences cannot travel faster than light.
Niels Bohr again opposed it by rejecting hidden variables as it would again bring in “Determinism”. Schrödinger and Wendell Furry on the other hand proposed an alternative viewpoint in response to EPR. They suggested that entanglement might only be relevant over short distances and that it would “vanish” or become irrelevant with wide particle separation. This idea was an attempt to reconcile quantum mechanics with classical intuitions. However, experiments and developments in quantum theory have largely supported Bohr’s interpretation, demonstrating the non-existence of hidden variables and confirming the reality of entanglement across large distances. China’s Micius satellite shows how quantum entanglement can be used in real-world applications. It uses quantum-encrypted communications, which use entangled particles to create secure, unbreakable communication channels. The Micius satellite proves that we can use this communication over long distances, showing the strength and scalability of quantum entanglement.
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