Collaborative Research - CCLI Phase II: Diverse Partnership for Teaching Quantum Mechanics and Modern Physics with Photon Counting Instrumentation

物理学(13)量子光学和量子信息物理学的最新发展，以及光子计数仪器的相关进展，为向比以前更广泛的受众介绍量子力学中最难的概念打开了机会。来自不同专业的本科生，甚至普通大众，都被量子计算的新闻和《量子奇葩》迷住了。这些复杂的概念可以通过一系列实验清楚而戏剧性地展示出来。这个项目是在以前的一个较小项目的基础上建造的。开发了四个关于光子量子力学的教学实验，并将其作为实验室课程(见课程网站http://www.optics.rochester.edu/workgroups/lukishova/QuantumOpticsLab).为了适应主要挑战(课程空间不足)，他们开发了一系列以选修实验室为基础的模块实验和演示，这些实验和演示可纳入从一年级到高级的许多课程，包括物理和工程学。本项目的目标是开发和测试各种版本的教学实验和辅助材料，以促进不同背景的学生理解量子力学中的叠加、干涉、互补和非定域性概念。另一个目标是使用最近开发的可用于其他领域(例如，纳米技术或生物医学)的量子信息技术仪器来熟悉这些概念。一批不同的学校(大学、社区和文科学院，以及一家技术学院)正在合作，为包括一年级学生在内的所有级别的本科生开发一系列关于现代物理、量子力学和纳米技术的讲座课程，并提供实验演示和动手实验。正在开发新的紧凑型设备(例如，与光纤耦合的单光子源)，以供量子光学教学网络中的机构共享。智力优势：该项目解决了现代物理学在科学和工程教育中最具挑战性的概念之一，目前正被应用于重要的技术问题。强大的计算机和完全的通信安全是量子信息技术的未来目标。重要的是让未来的劳动力熟悉这些新想法，并向他们提供在许多技术领域广泛使用的光子计数仪器的实践经验。更广泛的影响：该项目直接影响到具有不同背景的各种理工科学生，包括代表性不足的群体。传播成果的方法是不断开发一个项目网站，与其他大学的类似课程讲师开展协作活动，建立一个全国性的网络，在教育期刊上发表演讲和出版物，并在地区和国家专业会议上发表学生出版物和演讲。NSF夏季REU和RET项目和互动研讨会为来自其他机构的学生和教师提供了了解教学实验的机会，紧凑的设备可以从罗切斯特借来。一本关于量子光学教学实验的书正在准备出版。

Physics (13) Recent developments in quantum optics and quantum information physics along with the associated progress in photon-counting instrumentation have opened the opportunity of introducing the most difficult concepts in quantum mechanics to a much broader audience than previously. Undergraduates from a variety of majors and even the general public are fascinated by news of quantum computing and "quantum weirdness." These sophisticated concepts can be clearly and dramatically demonstrated by means of a series of experiments. This project is built on a previous smaller project. Four teaching experiments on photon quantum mechanics were developed and taught as a laboratory course (see course website http://www.optics.rochester.edu/workgroups/lukishova/QuantumOpticsLab). They are adapted to the main challenge (the lack of space in the curriculum) by developing a series of modular experiments and demonstrations based on an elective laboratory that can be incorporated into a number of courses ranging from freshman to senior level, in both physics and engineering. The goal of this project is to develop and test various versions of teaching experiments and supporting materials to facilitate understanding of the concepts of superposition, interference, complementarity and non-locality in quantum mechanics by students with diverse backgrounds. A further goal is to acquaint the students with these concepts using the recently developed instrumentation of quantum information technology that can be used in other areas (e.g., in nanotechnology or biomedicine). A collaboration among a diverse group of schools (universities, community and liberal arts colleges, and a technical institute) is developing a combination of lecture courses on modern physics, quantum mechanics, and nanotechnology with experimental demonstration and hand-on experiments for undergraduates at all levels, including first year students. New compact equipment (e.g., a single photon source coupled with optical fibers) is being developed for sharing among institutions in a quantum optics teaching network. Intellectual merit: The project addresses one of the most challenging concepts of modern physics in science and engineering education that is now being applied to important technological problems. Enormously powerful computers and total communication security are the future goals of quantum information technology. It is important to familiarize the future workforce with these new ideas as well as to provide them with hands-on experience in photon-counting instrumentation widely used in many technological areas. Broader impact: The project directly impacts a variety of science and engineering students with diverse backgrounds including under-represented groups. Dissemination of the results is by a constant development of a project website, building a national network with collaborative activities with similar course instructors from other universities, presentations and publications in educational journals, and by student publication and presentations at regional and national professional meetings. NSF Summer REU and RET programs and interactive workshops provide students and teachers from other institutions with an opportunity to learn about teaching experiments, and compact equipment may be borrowed from Rochester. A book on quantum optical teaching experiments is being prepared for publication.