Quantum entanglement between two separate macroscopic objects which is
maintained for as long as electricity runs in the lab is demonstrated.
This achievement disproves a popular belief that quantum entanglement,
the main component in quantum information processing, is a fragile
property which can only exist for a limited time. The novel method
used to produce this unusual result is based on employing dissipation
for generation of entanglement. Dissipation, or, in other words,
uncontrolled interaction with the environment, so far has been the
major reason for ruining quantum entanglement. We engineer dissipation
for atomic ensembles containing thousands of billions of atoms so that
it generates entanglement rather than impairing it. Our work
demonstrates that dissipation can be used for quantum information
processing. Applications range from quantum communication to quantum
sensing.
