Physicists have for the first time detected a strange quantum phenomenon within protons, something that Einstein himself was not fond of.

Physicists utilized data from particle collisions with extremely high energy across various particle accelerators, enabling them to gain a clearer understanding of the internal structure of protons. These particles, along with neutrons, form the foundation of atomic nuclei. Protons themselves are composed of smaller particles—quarks and gluons. For the first time, physicists determined that these particles can exist in a state of quantum entanglement. This phenomenon was not favored by Albert Einstein. The research was published in the journal Reports on Progress in Physics, as reported by Space.

Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon in quantum physics that illustrates how two particles, even if positioned on opposite sides of the universe, can instantaneously influence each other's state. This means that a change in the state of one particle can affect the state of another.

Albert Einstein's theory of relativity tells us that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, implying that the instantaneous nature of quantum entanglement should not exist. Although the existence of quantum entanglement has been proven, Einstein was not particularly fond of this phenomenon and famously referred to it as "spooky action at a distance."

Physicists have repeatedly tested the existence of quantum entanglement on a large scale, but now scientists have studied it at the subatomic level and discovered that this strange quantum phenomenon exists within individual protons. This was achieved using data from high-energy particle collisions at various particle accelerators around the globe. As a result, physicists were able to obtain a more accurate picture of the internal structure of protons.

For the first time, scientists discovered that the quarks and gluons that make up protons can be in a state of quantum entanglement when these particles are separated by extremely tiny distances. According to physicists, the results of the study revealed a more complex and dynamic internal structure of an individual proton. This discovery will aid in understanding how quantum entanglement among quarks and gluons affects the structure of protons.

Physicists found that not only two individual particles within a proton are in a state of quantum entanglement, but rather, the entire proton exhibits this phenomenon. Such maximum quantum entanglement within a proton arises from strong interactions that produce a large number of quark and gluon pairs.

The discovery of maximum quantum entanglement of quarks and gluons within protons may help elucidate what holds these fundamental particles together with the particles in atomic nuclei.

Further understanding of the quantum entanglement of quarks and gluons could assist physicists in addressing known challenges in nuclear physics. For instance, it may help clarify how being part of larger atomic nuclei influences the structure of protons.