  We propose a method for directly probing the dynamics of disentanglement of
an initial two-qubit entangled state, under the action of a reservoir. We show
that it is possible to detect disentanglement, for experimentally realizable
examples of decaying systems, through the measurement of a single observable,
which is invariant throughout the decay. The systems under consideration may
lead to either finite-time or asymptotic disentanglement. A general
prescription for measuring this observable, which yields an operational meaning
to entanglement measures, is proposed, and exemplified for cavity quantum
electrodynamics and trapped ions.
