With support from the Division of Chemistry, Professors Philip Bucksbaum and Mohammed Hassan of Stanford University and the University of Arizona, respectively, along with their United Kingdom collaborators from the University College London, are investigating electron-ion entanglement in the photoionization of small molecules by extremely intense laser pulses of squeezed quantum light. Entanglement is a quantum mechanical phenomenon where two particles, such as the ion and its departing electron, exhibit correlated behavior, even when they are separated by large distances. However, entanglement is difficult to create and detect, and the ionization process happens extremely quickly. Professors Bucksbaum, Hassan, and their UK collaborators, will detect the directions and velocities of electrons emitted from atoms and molecules when they are ionized by squeezed fields derived from ultrafast laser pulses. Their discoveries could reveal quantum entanglement between the ion and its departing electron, potentially leading to a deeper understanding of the role quantum fields play in chemical dynamics. The project will also provide research opportunities for graduate students in quantum information science and thus contribute to the development of a quantum-enabled workforce. This award is made under the NSF-UKRI lead agency opportunity. The team will create bright squeezed vacuum (BSV) fields capable of affecting photoionization using near-infrared or visible coherent pulsed lase