Detection of quantum entanglement across the event horizon

Abstract

We investigate the problem of distinguishing between separable and entangled states of two quantum wave packets, one of which falls into a black hole. Intuitively, one might expect the two scenarios to be indistinguishable, since the information carried by one wave packet is hidden beyond the event horizon. We show, however, that fundamental limitations on the localizability of quantum states can render the two scenarios, in principle, distinguishable. Employing tools from quantum state discrimination theory, we analyze a concrete realization and discuss the configurations that maximize the probability of successfully distinguishing between the two cases.