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Science 27 April 2007:
Vol. 316. no. 5824, pp. 579 - 582
DOI: 10.1126/science.1139892
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Reports

Environment-Induced Sudden Death of Entanglement

M. P. Almeida, F. de Melo, M. Hor-Meyll, A. Salles, S. P. Walborn, P. H. Souto Ribeiro, L. Davidovich*

We demonstrate the difference between local, single-particle dynamics and global dynamics of entangled quantum systems coupled to independent environments. Using an all-optical experimental setup, we showed that, even when the environment-induced decay of each system is asymptotic, quantum entanglement may suddenly disappear. This "sudden death" constitutes yet another distinct and counterintuitive trait of entanglement.

Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Caixa Postal 68528, Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941-972, Brazil.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ldavid{at}if.ufrj.br

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