1 I have been around the barn enough times to realize that scientists speak a language that is mostly unintelligible to the rest of us mortals, and that when it does sound familiar it doesn't mean what it sounds like. But I must say, quantum entanglement sounds like the mass of cables hanging behind my computer; something certainly not expected to speed up communications or enhance performance under any circumstances!

2 How DoesQuantum CommunicationWork? Using the principle of entanglement, researchers have usedentangledphotons to transfer..
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3 It sounds complicated but it boils down to this; if you take a subatomic particle and split it with a split-screen type system then separate the two you find that they remain in the same energy states even while separated. Vibrate one and the other vibrates! They are said to be quantum entangled; they share the same physical conditions even while apart. The interesting thing is that they "communicate" across vast distances with no speed-of-light time lag. (One wonders if they aren't actually the same particle just occupying two different positions in space - a variation on quantum uncertainty.) So you see, you should be able to send messages using this system. Of course, the original has to be in your possession. But if you put a quantum-entangled particle on, say, a deep space probe you could watch events in real time. It would be especially useful if we ever settle the solar system (or go even further) because the time lag becomes intolerable; hours in the solar system. With current technology a person on Mars couldn't have a real-time conversation with someone on Earth; he'd have to leave messages back and forth. But with a phone system based on quantum entanglement you could chat away as though they were next door.

"Quantum teleportation" is just a fancy way of saying you can share information via the entanglement. (It's not what we think of when we speak of teleportation, which is the moving of matter between two points without crossing the intervening space.)

If this sounds like science fiction it is because it WAS. A LOT of S-F writers used this trick in stories. I never thought I would be alive to see it become a practical possibility; always figured it would be too hard to measure and manipulate the particle.

"Man shall learn and learn and not come to the knowledge of the Truth."

4 And, ever the smartass, I have to ask: Tim, is this something you could use to get your computers and e-mail working again?

5 Oh dear Lord I hope so!

6 I've been playing EverQuest for years, and I must say that the community is one of the friendliest I've ever come across. It's always a pleasure to group up with helpful and kind players. Also don't forget visit these blogs.

7 I appreciate the time and effort you put into each post. The depth of your knowledge is evident, and it's a pleasure to learn from you.