Events in Physics
Noah Linden, Bristol
Quantum Non-locality and Beyond
Quantum entanglement is a defining feature of quantum mechanics [as opposed to "classical" physics]. It is key to the new field of quantum information and computation. Given its central role, it may come as a surprise that most important questions about the characterisation and quantification of entanglement remain unanswered, as I will describe. Entanglement also leads to separated quantum particles exhibiting distinctive "non-local" correlations. However quantum mechanics puts a limit on the strength of these correlations. Why this should be so has been a deep mystery. Very recent work, however, has begun to suggest an answer to the question "Why isn't Nature more non-local?". I will describe this and its connection to communication complexity. I will assume familiarity with basic quantum mechanics, but not too much familiarity with entanglement/non-locality and none with communication complexity.