University of Glasgow Scientists Break New Ground with High-Energy Quantum Entanglement at CERN

University of Glasgow Scientists Break New Ground with High-Energy Quantum Entanglement at CERN

(IN BRIEF) Researchers from the University of Glasgow, working with the ATLAS experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC), have made a groundbreaking discovery by observing quantum entanglement between top quarks at the highest energies ever studied. This is the first time quantum entanglement has been detected at such high energy levels, opening up new possibilities for testing quantum mechanics using particle colliders. The research, published in Nature, was led by Dr. James Howarth of the University of Glasgow and Dr. Yoav Afik from the University of Chicago, with support from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the Royal Society.

(PRESS RELEASE) GLASGOW, 19-Sep-2024— /EuropaWire/ — Researchers from the University of Glasgow’s School of Physics & Astronomy have made a significant breakthrough in quantum physics through their involvement in an experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), shedding new light on quantum entanglement at previously unexplored energy levels.

The ATLAS experiment, a general-purpose particle detector at CERN’s LHC in Geneva, has long been a hub for groundbreaking discoveries in particle physics. For decades, physicists from the University of Glasgow have been integral to the international ATLAS collaboration, contributing to studies that deepen our understanding of the universe’s fundamental forces and particles.

Quantum entanglement, a key phenomenon in quantum physics, ties the state of one particle to another, even across vast distances. Though well-studied in various systems and known for its applications in quantum computing and cryptography, entanglement at the high energies generated by particle colliders like the LHC had largely remained unexplored—until now.

The recent research, published in Nature, reveals for the first time the observation of quantum entanglement between top quarks, the heaviest fundamental particles known, at the highest energies ever investigated. Top quarks, produced during proton collisions in the LHC, have extremely short lifespans, decaying into other particles almost instantaneously. By analyzing the spin orientations transferred to the decay products, researchers can infer the behavior of the original top quarks, thus uncovering their quantum properties.

Dr. James Howarth from the University of Glasgow, alongside Dr. Yoav Afik from the University of Chicago, spearheaded the experiment. Dr. Howarth, a Royal Society University Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer, noted, “While the LHC has long applied quantum mechanics in studying the forces and particles of nature, this is the first time we’ve truly probed the fundamental quantum nature of reality. This research opens up exciting new possibilities for particle colliders.”

Ethan Simpson, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Manchester, who contributed to the study during his PhD at the University of Glasgow, expressed similar excitement. “This is the highest energy measurement of quantum entanglement ever made. When I began my PhD, we didn’t even know it was possible to measure entanglement using the ATLAS detector, and now we’ve unlocked an entirely new area of exploration for quantum mechanics at the LHC,” he said.

The research was made possible through support from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the Royal Society. This breakthrough could pave the way for many new experiments designed to push the boundaries of quantum mechanics in high-energy environments.

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SOURCE: University of Glasgow