
Kyoto and Hiroshima Teams Solve 25-Year Puzzle in Measuring W-State Quantum Entanglement
Physicists from Kyoto and Hiroshima universities have achieved the first experimental measurement of W-state quantum entanglement in three photons, a capability that had remained theoretical for over 25 years. Published in Science Advances in September 2025, the study introduces a one-shot measurement technique using a custom discrete Fourier transform optical circuit. This method bypasses the inefficiencies of traditional quantum tomography, which requires exponentially more measurements as particle numbers increase. The team achieved a measurement discrimination fidelity of 0.871, exceeding the 66.7% threshold required to prove three-particle entanglement. This breakthrough offers a more efficient path for developing quantum communication, teleportation, and computing technologies.



