CERN Detects Quantum Entanglement in Particles Born From The Higgs Boson
Spooky action in the LHC.
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Researchers at CERN have identified compelling evidence of quantum entanglement occurring between particles generated from the decay of the Higgs boson. The discovery marks the first time scientists have observed this phenomenon, known colloquially as “spooky action at a distance,” involving Z bosons produced through Higgs decay at the Large Hadron Collider.
The entangled Z bosons exhibit an extraordinary connection in their spin properties, making them inseparable from a quantum perspective even though they are distinct particles. What distinguishes this finding from previous entanglement observations at the LHC is the unique characteristics of Z bosons themselves. Unlike other particles studied previously, Z bosons possess three possible spin states rather than two, classifying them as qutrits in quantum information terms. This represents the first measurement of entanglement involving such three-state particles.
The research presents an intriguing challenge: the Higgs boson’s relatively low mass means it cannot simultaneously produce two conventional Z bosons. Instead, at least one must exist as a “virtual” particle—a fleeting quantum phenomenon that normally cannot be directly observed. The successful detection of entanglement involving a virtual particle raises fundamental questions about the nature of quantum connections. Physicists reconstructed the Z boson spins by analyzing the paths of leptons produced during decay, working backward from detector measurements to confirm the entangled state with a statistical significance of 4.7 sigma.
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Originally reported by Sciencealert →
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