A formative intervention experiment of building quantum mechanics basic concepts with math and computer science students”

A pilot formative intervention module of eight hours was carried out with four computer science PhD students and five math students enrolled at the University of Verona (Italy) in order to calibrate an Inquiry-Based proposal on Quantum Mechanics (QM) for non-physics majors and to develop educational supporting tools. The approach is based on the QM formalism according to Dirac and focuses on the superposition principle and on its meaning and implications in a particle-like description. The educational path is set in the context of the two-dimensional space of linear photon polarization through seven worksheets. The superposition of spatially separated states and single-photon non-locality is also addressed. The proposal includes exploration through real experiments with light, using polaroids and birefringent crystals, and through ideal experiments on single photons, using a specifically developed Java applet. Preliminary data analysis shows two big conceptual nodes: recognizing the active role of polaroids with respect to the property of photon polarization and the meaning of quantum measurement; recognizing that a single particle can exist in a superposition of spatially separated states. The Udine proposal proved to be particularly well suited for students interested in Quantum Computing and Quantum Cryptography.