New Quantum Exchange collection resources

Paradigms in Physics Quantum: Projection Operators

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:26:14 EST

This student activity is designed to help upper division undergraduate students work with the mathematics of projection operators in quantum mechanics. Students will find normalized orthogonal vectors, take outer products of vectors with themselves, and explore the resulting projection operators. This material includes a student worksheet and instructor's guide. This material is part of the Paradigms in Physics project at Oregon State University. This work promotes the use of active student learning in upper division physics courses. Both learning materials and learning strategies are provided to help both students and instructors. Instructors using these materials are encouraged to add comments on their experiences to the wiki.

Paradigms in Physics: Quantum Activities

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:16:03 EST

This web page provides a list of learning activities for Quantum Mechanics classes. Each activity includes a description and learning goals, guides for instructors, handouts or worksheets, and reflections of instructors who have used the activity when available. Included are activities for Operators, Eigenstates, Probability Densities, Stern-Gerlach Simulations, Schrödinger's Equation, and Time Evolution. This material is part of the Paradigms in Physics project at Oregon State University. This work promotes the use of active student learning in upper division physics courses. Both learning materials and learning strategies are provided to help both students and instructors.

Upper-Division Quantum Mechanics I Transformed Course Materials

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:11:47 EST

This web site provides research-based materials for junior-level quantum mechanics I courses on quantum mechanics. Topics covered include the Schroedinger equation, bound state problems, Hilbert space and operators, the hydrogen atom, and spin. The course archives include documented student difficulties, learning goals, ConcepTests (clicker questions), class activities, homework, tutorials, and a conceptual assessment tool. All may be downloaded, although the assessment tools require permission from the authors for access.

Web-based Quantum Mechanics I Course

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:38:52 EST

This web site is an entire web-based Quantum Mechanics I Course based at the University of Tennessee. It includes instructional materials, in-class tutorials, simulations, links to other quantum resources, homework assignments, and solutions.

OSP QuILT Package

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:08:34 EST

The OSP QuILT package is a self-contained file for the teaching of time evolution of wave functions in quantum mechanics. The file contains ready-to-run OSP programs and a set of curricular materials. The material presents a computer-based tutorial on the “Time Evolution of the Wave Function.” This package is one of the recently developed computer-based tutorials that have resulted from the collaboration of the Quantum Interactive Learning Tutorials (QuILT) project and the Open Source Physics (OSP) project. The OSP QuILT package is an Open Source Physics curricular package written for the teaching of quantum mechanics. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the osp_quilt.jar file will run the package if Java is installed. Other quantum mechanics packages are also available. They can be found by searching ComPADRE for Open Source Physics, OSP, QuILT, or Quantum Mechanics.

Graduate Quantum Mechanics Reform

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:21:19 EST

We address four main areas in which graduate quantum mechanics education can be improved: course content, textbook, teaching methods, and assessment tools. We report on a three year longitudinal study at the Colorado School of Mines using innovations in all these areas. In particular, we have modified the content of the course to reflect progress in the field of quantum mechanics over the last 50 years, used textbooks that include such content, incorporated a variety of teaching techniques based on physics education research, and used a variety of assessment tools to study the effectiveness of these reforms. We present a new assessment tool, the Graduate Quantum Mechanics Conceptual Survey, and further testing of a previously developed assessment tool, the Quantum Mechanics Conceptual Survey. We find that graduate students respond well to research-based techniques that have been tested mainly in introductory courses, and that they learn much of the new content introduced in each version of the course. We also find that students' ability to answer conceptual questions about graduate quantum mechanics is highly correlated with their ability to solve calculational problems on the same topics. In contrast, we find that students' understanding of basic undergraduate quantum mechanics concepts at the modern physics level is not improved by instruction at the graduate level.

Laser Adventure

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:19:40 EST

This website provides a broad online introduction to lasers. The topics covered include basic optics and radiation, quantum energy levels, laser systems, gain, types of lasers, and laser applications. The online text also contains java applets to illustrate the physics and links related to lasers such as a list of books on lasers and laboratory experiments.

Observing the quantum behavior of light in an undergraduate laboratory

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:20:21 EST

While the classical, wavelike behavior of light (interference and diffraction) has been easily observed in undergraduate laboratories for many years, explicit observation of the quantum nature of light (i.e., photons) is much more difficult. For example, while well-known phenomena such as the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering strongly suggest the existence of photons, they are not definitive proof of their existence. Here we present an experiment, suitable for an undergraduate laboratory, that unequivocally demonstrates the quantum nature of light. Spontaneously downconverted light is incident on a beamsplitter and the outputs are monitored with single-photon counting detectors. We observe a near absence of coincidence counts between the two detectors—a result inconsistent with a classical wave model of light, but consistent with a quantum description in which individual photons are incident on the beamsplitter. More explicitly, we measured the degree of second-order coherence between the outputs to be g(2)(0) = 0.0177±0.0026, which violates the classical inequality g(2)(0)>=1 by 377 standard deviations.

The double slit experiment and the collapse of the wavefunction

Tue, 19 May 2009 23:48:49 EST

This web page gives a brief introduction to the double slit experiment in quantum mechanics illustrated by a java applet. The applet is a simulation of a 2D interference experiment with user changeable slit size, detector position, and whether there is one or two slits. The description of the experiment gives a brief introduction to the concepts of the wavefunction providing probabilities and measurements causing a collapse of the wavefunction.

On the Study of Student Use of Meta-Resources in Learning Quantum Mechanics

Tue, 19 May 2009 17:17:05 EST

This research paper, presented at the 2002 Physics Education Research Conference, discusses the authors' research on student use of resources in learning quantum mechanics, which shows that a student often needs to make judgments among competing ideas. The researchers state that they see the potential to develop a new category of resources, meta-resources, to model the views and beliefs as well as meta-cognitive processes that students use in making judgments. Examples from student interviews are discussed as initial evidence for a larger scale investigation toward this area.

QuantumLab

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:05:35 EST

This web site provides interactive representations of quantum optics experiments. The illustrations show the setup, operation, and results of real experiments that demonstrate fundamental phenomena of quantum physics such as quantum particles, randomness, and entanglement as well as prospective applications such as quantum number generation and quantum cryptography. Extensive supplemental materials, with text, pictures, and video, explain the physics being studied in the experiments. An extensive bibliography is also included.

Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Laboratory

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:59:26 EST

This website contains information on a laboratory course at the Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, on quantum optics. It includes descriptions and manuals for four teaching experiments on single and entangled photons for undergraduates. It also includes a course syllabus and students’ assignments, reports and presentations. This work is supported by the NSF grants ECS-0420888 and DUE-0633621, the University of Rochester Kauffman Foundation Initiative, and the Spectra-Physics division of Newport Corporation.

Nanohub

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:57:18 EST

NanoHUB is a web-based collection of resources for research, education and collaboration in nanotechnology. It contains online presentations, courses, learning modules, animations, and teaching materials. A focus of nanoHUB is the educational use of online simulation tools for nanotechnology devices. It is also a collaboration environment with group workspaces, online meetings and user groups. Nanohub resources come from a wide-range of contributors in the nanoscience community, and are used by thousands of users around the world. Nanohub is part of the Network for Computational Nanotechnology and is supported by the National Science Foundation through grants EEC-0228390 and EEC-0634750. It is also part of the NSF Cyberinfrastructure program.

Point Group Symmetry

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:20:03 EST

This is a reference web site for group theory and the properties of symmetry point groups. It covers the mathematics and science applications of symmetry relations, including the impact on interactions with specific reference to dipole-transition selection rules. Unit cells, stereograms, and 3D animated molecules are presented as examples of each point group. This web site also provides other symmetry related links and a link to references for symmetry in physics and chemistry.

Multiple Slit Diffraction Model

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:10:05 EST

The EJS Multiple Slit Diffraction model allows the user to simulate Fraunhofer diffraction through single or multiple slits. The user can modify the number of slits, the slit width, the slit separation and the wavelength of the incident light. The scale of the diffraction pattern can also be changed and a plot of the light intensity can be toggled on and off with a checkbox. A basic theoretical introduction to diffraction is included. The Multiple Slit Diffraction Model was created using the Easy Java Simulations (Ejs) modeling tool. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the ejs_ntnu_optics_MultipleSlitDiffraction.jar file will run the program if Java is installed. Ejs is a part of the Open Source Physics Project and is designed to make it easier to access, modify, and generate computer models. Additional Open Source Physics programs for quantum mechanics are available. They can be found by searching ComPADRE for Open Source Physics, OSP, or EJS.

Circular Well Superposition Model

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:07:29 EST

The Circular Well Superposition simulation displays the time evolution of the position-space wave function in an infinite 2D circular well. The default configuration shows the first excited state with zero angular momentum. Additional eigenstates can be added using a button in the eigenstate coefficient table. A description of the quantum system and eigenstates, with questions for the students, are included. Circular Well Superpostion Model was created using the Easy Java Simulations (Ejs) modeling tool. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the ejs_qm_Superposition2DCircularWell.jar file will run the program if Java is installed. Ejs is a part of the Open Source Physics Project and is designed to make it easier to access, modify, and generate computer models. Additional Open Source Physics programs for quantum mechanics are available. They can be found by searching ComPADRE for Open Source Physics, OSP, or EJS.

Special Functions Model

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:01:02 EST

EJS Special Functions Model shows how to access special functions in the OSP numerics package. The simulation displays a graph of the special function over the given range as well as the value of the selected function at a single point. The following special functions can be displayed:

Legendre polynomials Pn(x)
associated Legendre functions Pnm(x)
Laguerre polynomials Ln(x)
associated Laguerre polynomials Lnm(x)
Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind Tn(x)
Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind Un(x)
Bessel functions Jn(x)

A description of the EJS special functions along with links to more information about the functions are provided.

Physlet Problems Written or Adapted by Paul Zitzewitz

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:56:09 EST

This collection of physics applets (Physlets) covers topics in electric and magnetic fields, osmosis, and quantum physics. Each Java animation includes text and exercises directing student activity. The quantum materials include solutions to 1D harmonic oscillator and square well potentials, and angular and radial states of hydrogenic orbitals. This material is based on the development of Physlets by Wolfgang Christian.

Resources Students Use to Understand Quantum Mechanical Operators

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:52:35 EST

The Paradigms team at Oregon State University has developed a quantum mechanics curriculum aimed at middle division students that begins with a strong emphasis on using operators, matrices and Dirac notation to describe quantum systems. The curriculum begins with spin systems, and this content ordering relies on students being able to understand quantum mechanical operators, eigenstates and quantum measurement without prior instruction on wave functions. We have analyzed classroom and an interview video to identify resources students use when considering these quantum ideas. Identification of such resources will inform introductory curricula that are prerequisite to the quantum Paradigms and inform the development of Paradigms materials that will guide students to use these resources productively.

Eigenstate Superposition Model

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:05:52 EST

This applet illustrates the fundamental building blocks of one-dimensional quantum mechanics, the energy eigenfunctions ψ_n(x) and energy eigenvalues E_n. The user enters the expansion coefficients into a table and the simulation uses the superposition principle to construct and display a time-dependent wave function using either infinite square well (ISW) or simple harmonic oscillator (SHO) eigenfunctions.