Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 11 February 2005:
Vol. 307. no. 5711, pp. 872 - 875
DOI: 10.1126/science.1109545
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Viewpoint

From Pedigree Cats to Fluffy-Bunnies

Jacob Dunningham, Alexander Rau, Keith Burnett*

We consider two distinct classes of quantum mechanical entanglement. The first "pedigree" class consists of delicate highly entangled states, which hold great potential for use in future quantum technologies. By focusing on Schrödinger cat states, we demonstrate not only the possibilities these states hold but also the difficulties they present. The second "fluffy-bunny" class is made up of robust states that arise naturally as a result of measurements and interactions between particles. This class of entanglement may be responsible for the classical-like world we see around us.

Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, UK.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: k.burnett1{at}physics.ox.ac.uk

Read the Full Text

To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)