Physicists have for the first time detected a "spooky" quantum phenomenon in the universe's fundamental particles.

Physicists have long suspected that the quarks and gluons, which compose protons, can exist in a state of quantum entanglement. Quarks and gluons are fundamental particles of the Universe. Now, for the first time, direct evidence of this strange phenomenon has emerged within the subatomic particle proton, which, alongside neutrons, makes up atomic nuclei. This new discovery is detailed in a study published in the journal Reports on Progress in Physics, according to Live Science.

Particles in a state of quantum entanglement are interconnected in such a way that a change in one particle instantaneously causes a change in another, even if they are separated by vast distances. Albert Einstein initially dismissed this idea, referring to quantum entanglement as "spooky action at a distance." However, subsequent research has proven that this peculiar quantum phenomenon does indeed exist.

For the first time, physicists have detected the existence of quantum entanglement between quarks and gluons within protons at a distance of one quadrillionth of a meter, allowing particles to exchange information throughout the proton. Thus, this new discovery alters our understanding of the internal structure and characteristics of this subatomic particle.

Although quantum entanglement was demonstrated back in the 1970s, many aspects of this strange phenomenon remain relatively unexplored. This includes the quantum entanglement between quarks.

The fact is that subatomic particles do not exist independently; instead, they merge into various combinations of particles known as hadrons. Some of these hadrons are called baryons. Baryons such as protons and neutrons consist of three quarks that are tightly bound to gluons, the carriers of the strong interaction.

When individual quarks are pulled away from hadrons, the energy used to extract them makes these particles unstable, turning them into jets of particles during the hadronization process. This makes the task of sifting through trillions of decay products to restore their original state incredibly complex. Yet, this is precisely what physicists accomplished.

To investigate the internal state of protons, physicists utilized data obtained from experiments at the Large Hadron Collider. Following this, they applied a principle from quantum informatics, which states that the entropy of a system, or the measure of how many energy states can be organized within the system, increases with quantum entanglement.

The scientists compared the particle jets with their entropy calculations and found that the quarks and gluons inside protons, which collide in the particle accelerator, are in the maximum possible state of quantum entanglement. In this state, each particle shares the maximum possible information.

According to physicists, this discovery will help to better understand the nature of the fundamental particles of the Universe. For instance, it may provide answers to why quarks and gluons remain confined within protons. Furthermore, physicists believe that quantum entanglement within protons may influence the structure of atomic nuclei, but how this occurs still needs to be determined.