The Physics & Astronomy Colloquium Series presents Gerardo Ortiz of Indiana University at Bloomington, discussing "Quantum Entanglement Microscopy and Sensing" on April 18.

Abstract: In 2022, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized groundbreaking experiments that demonstrated quantum entanglement as an inherent property of the physical world, with profound implications for fields such as secure information transfer, quantum computing, and sensing technologies. In this context, we embark on a journey through the science and technology of "spooky action at a distance," a phenomenon that perplexed Albert Einstein and was later encapsulated in John Bell's famous inequality.

We will then focus on the emerging discipline of "Quantum Entanglement Microscopy and Sensing," a cutting-edge approach for using quantum entanglement to probe and uncover the inherent entanglement of matter itself. We have successfully implemented entangled neutron beams, where individual neutrons can be entangled in terms of their spin, trajectory, and energy. Intriguingly, by carefully tuning the entanglement and coherence properties of the probe, we can gain direct access to the intrinsic entanglement of the target material.

Our framework provides strong support for the idea that entangled quantum particle beams—whether composed of neutrons, X-rays, or photon pairs—can serve as versatile and powerful tools in scientific research. These entangled beams have the potential to open new avenues for exploring the quantum properties of matter and could revolutionize how we understand and manipulate the physical world at the most fundamental level.