American Association of Physics Teachers

National Meeting Program Schedule

2011 AAPT Summer Meeting
July 30-August 3, 2011
Omaha, Nebraska

Total Number of Records Found: 1

PST1D03:

A Hands-On Introduction to Quantum Mechanics for Sophomore Physics Majors

Location:

KFC Courts

Date:

Monday, Aug.1

Time:

8:00 PM -8:45 PM

Author:

David Jackson, Dickinson College
717-245-1073, jacksond@dickinson.edu

Co-Author(s):

Brett J. Pearson

Abstract:

The Physics Department at Dickinson College has re-designed its curriculum for physics majors to take advantage of recently developed single-photon experiments in quantum mechanics.* The ultimate goal is to bring students face to face with some of the fascinating and subtle features of quantum mechanics in a hands-on setting. This is mainly accomplished in a sophomore-level course titled "Introduction to Relativistic and Quantum Physics." Experiments include the behavior of a photon at a beam splitter--it "must" go one way or the other--and the behavior of a photon at a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer--it "must" go both ways. This poster will describe our curriculum changes and discuss some of the successes and difficulties we have experienced.

Footnotes:

*This work was supported by NSF grant DUE-0737230.