Photon Quantum Mechanics for Undergraduates

这是为本科生开发单光子桌面实验室项目的第二阶段。其目的是通过让学生接触到阐述量子力学主题的实验室经验来加强量子力学的教学，否则量子力学主题是理论和抽象的。在之前由美国国家科学基金会资助的一个项目中，研究人员证明，单光子实验提供了一种理解基本量子力学概念的方法。他们还发现，这些实验远远超出了这些目标，因为实验结果强调了量子力学的非常基本的问题，如互补性、纠缠和非定域性。他们正在扩大原本计划包括纠缠态实验在内的一系列实验。学生们正在开发这些实验，作为课程研究项目(三年级和四年级)或暑期研究(所有本科生水平)的一部分。这些单光子实验有可能成为每个物理系高级本科生实验室的一部分。调查人员正在加紧努力传播他们的知识和经验，方法是建立一个可运送到偏远地点进行示范和传播的原型，并组织讲习班。该计划的第二部分涉及为量子力学本科高级课程创建一套实验室，并在高露洁大学进行测试。这组实验室经验说明了一些主题，如概率和概率幅度之间的差异、状态向量代数、基数变化、状态投影、状态叠加和量子干涉。他们正在评估和分析这样的经历对量子力学学习的影响。他们在一门主要面向一年级学生的《现代物理入门》课程中加入了关于这一主题的一章，以及相应的实验部分。这个项目提供了新的工具，通过独立的高层研究项目或作为正式课程的一部分来教授量子力学。这套新的实验预计将：1)推动量子力学教学方式的修订，并激励其他物理课程考虑将光子实验引入其课程；2)通过生成新的实验并使其适应以可负担性和简单性为主要考虑的机构环境，从而进一步发展和增强这一教育工具；以及3)让学生接触量子力学的原理，从而更好地理解量子信息的新进展。

This is the second stage of a project to develop tabletop laboratories with single photons for undergraduates. The aim is to enhance the teaching of quantum mechanics by exposing students to laboratory experiences that illustrate topics of quantum mechanics that are otherwise theoretical and abstract. In a previous NSF-funded program, the investigators demonstrated that experiments with single photons provide a means to understand fundamental quantum mechanical concepts. They also found that the experiments go well beyond these objectives because the experimental results underscore very fundamental issues about quantum mechanics, such as complementarity, entanglement and nonlocality. They are expanding the set of experiments that were originally planned to include experiments with entangled states. Students are developing these experiments as part of either curricular research projects (juniors and seniors) or summer research (all undergraduate levels). These experiments with single photons have the potential of becoming part of every physics department's upper-level undergraduate laboratory. The Investigators are increasing efforts to disseminate their knowledge and experience by building a prototype that can be transported to remote locations for demonstration and dissemination and by organizing workshops. A second component of the program involves creation of a set of laboratories for an upper-level undergraduate course on quantum mechanics and testing it at Colgate University. The set of laboratory experiences illustrates topics such as the difference between probability and probability amplitude, state-vector algebra, basis change, state projection, superposition of states, and quantum interference. They are evaluating and analyzing the impact of such an experience on the learning of quantum mechanics. They are inserting a chapter on this topic, with a corresponding laboratory component, into a course on Modern Introductory Physics taught mainly to first-year students. This program is providing new tools to teach quantum mechanics through both independent upper-level research projects or as part of a formal course. The new set of experiments is expected to: 1) motivate a revision in the way quantum mechanics is taught and inspire other physics program to consider introducing photon experiments into their curriculum, 2) lead to further development and enhancement of this educational tool through the generation of new experiments and their adaptation to institutional environments where affordability and simplicity are primary concerns, and 3) expose students to the principles of quantum mechanics providing better understanding of new advances in quantum information.