verschränkte

Verschränkte is the inflected form of the German adjective derived from verschränken, used in physics to describe quantum states that exhibit entanglement. The corresponding noun is Verschänkung or Verschränkung, referring to the phenomenon of entanglement itself. In quantum mechanics, entanglement is a property of a composite system where the joint state cannot be written as a simple product of the states of its parts. As a result, measurements on one part of the system exhibit correlations with measurements on another part that cannot be explained by classical, independent states, even when the components are spatially separated. This does not imply faster‑than‑light communication, but it does challenge classical notions of locality and realism.

In practice, one speaks of verschränkte Teilchen (entangled particles) or eines verschränkten Systems. The formal description uses a joint wavefunction or a density matrix on the combined Hilbert space of the subsystems. Entangled states can violate Bell inequalities, providing empirical tests of quantum nonlocality. The term Verschänkung enters historical context through the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox (1935) and Schrödinger’s subsequent discussion of entanglement, which Schrödinger famously called Verschränkung.

Applications of entanglement span quantum information science. They include quantum cryptography protocols (for example, E91), quantum teleportation, and entanglement swapping, as well as roles in quantum computing and enhanced metrology. The concept remains foundational for understanding quantum correlations and for developing practical technologies that rely on nonclassical links between distant systems.