Researchers confirm nonlocal energy influence in quantum memories

Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Hefei National Laboratory have conducted an experiment on quantum mechanics. They studied the phenomenon of entanglement, where two particles can influence each other’s states even if they are far apart. Their findings, published in Physical Review Letters, support a theoretical idea called nonlocal energy alteration. This concept suggests that the energy of one particle can change due to the influence of another entangled particle, without transferring energy faster than light. To test this idea, the researchers used two quantum memories, which can create and store quantum states. They built an optical device to measure quantum interference. They studied two specific particles produced during a process called spontaneous Raman scattering. The team employed a method to detect the position of one of the particles, either through a strong measurement or a weaker probing technique. This probing method allows them to gather information about the state of the particle, even if it is not precise. Their experiments confirmed the theoretical predictions. They observed that the energy associated with one particle could indeed be altered nonlocally by the presence of its entangled partner. However, they clarified that this process does not involve superluminal energy transfer but rather a modification of energy distribution influenced by quantum correlations. The results contribute to the understanding of quantum nonlocality and may inspire future research into similar concepts in quantum mechanics. The team also noted the potential for their innovative approach to address other fundamental questions in the field.