Subscribe now

Physics

Quantum entanglement can be endlessly 'embezzled' from quantum fields

Some quantum fields that extend throughout all of space-time could be a rich resource of quantum entanglement that can be extracted forever

By Karmela Padavic-Callaghan

24 December 2024

Some quantum fields have an infinite amount of entanglement that can be taken

Jurik Peter/Shutterstock

Entanglement is one of the most valuable resources in the quantum realm – for instance, it is the powerhouse behind quantum encryption – and in theory, it may be possible to extract an infinite amount of it from the universe.

Interacting with a quantum field usually changes its state, but Henrik Wilming at Leibniz University Hannover in Germany was looking for cases when this can be avoided. This led him to the idea of “quantum…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers