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Quantum Entanglement Calculator

Measure how entangled a two-qubit pure state |ψ⟩ = a|00⟩ + b|11⟩ is. Enter the amplitude a (with b = √(1−a²)) to get the entanglement entropy in ebits and the concurrence. A Bell state (a = 0.707) is maximally entangled.

 

Formula

$$ S = -p_0\log_2 p_0 - p_1\log_2 p_1 \qquad C = 2\,|a|\sqrt{1-a^2} $$
with p₀ = a², p₁ = 1 − a² (b = √(1−a²))

Worked example

For the Bell state a = 1/√2 ≈ 0.707, the probabilities are p₀ = p₁ = ½, giving entropy \( S = -\tfrac12\log_2\tfrac12 - \tfrac12\log_2\tfrac12 = 1 \) ebit and concurrence \( C = 2(0.707)(0.707) = 1 \) — maximal entanglement. A product state (a = 0 or 1) gives S = 0.

How it works

A two-qubit pure state written in Schmidt form is |ψ⟩ = a|00⟩ + b|11⟩ with a² + b² = 1. Its entanglement is quantified by the entanglement entropy — the von Neumann entropy of one qubit's reduced state — S = −p₀log₂p₀ − p₁log₂p₁, where p₀ = a² and p₁ = b². It ranges from 0 (separable) to 1 ebit (maximally entangled).

The concurrence C = 2|a|√(1−a²) is an equivalent measure that runs from 0 to 1. Both peak when a = 1/√2 ≈ 0.707, the balanced superposition of a Bell state, and vanish for a product state where a is 0 or 1.

Frequently asked questions

What is quantum entanglement entropy?

It is the von Neumann entropy of one qubit after tracing out its partner, measuring how much information the two qubits share. It runs from 0 (no entanglement) to 1 ebit (maximal, a Bell state).

What is a maximally entangled state?

A Bell state such as (|00⟩ + |11⟩)/√2, where a = 1/√2 ≈ 0.707. It has 1 ebit of entanglement entropy and concurrence 1 — measuring one qubit instantly fixes the other.

What is concurrence?

Concurrence is an entanglement measure for two qubits ranging from 0 to 1. For the pure state a|00⟩ + b|11⟩ it equals 2|a|·|b| = 2|a|√(1−a²).

When are two qubits not entangled?

When the state is separable (a product state), i.e. a = 0 or a = 1. Then one qubit's outcome tells you nothing about the other, and both entropy and concurrence are zero.

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