Quantum Information (Last modified July 2010)

Quantum information is an extremely important topic but unfortunately extremely difficult to understand. Here is a brief inroduction to the topic. It should be done after students have explored wave-particle duality and polarization of light.

Wave-particle duality is best explored through the double-slit experiment and this can be done using the video and teacher's guide from the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics called the Challenge of Quantum Reality. Another approach would be to use the materials and activities in quantum interference. Resources to help your students explore classical and quantum polarization of light can be found in quantum polarization.

 

Interactive Lecture (45 minutes)
An overview of quantum cryptography and quantum computing can be found in these powerpoint slides. It uses a short animation for quantum cryptography (which I am still trying to link here properly....) and introduces the students to quantum tic-tac-toe which is a great way to get an appreciation of quantum logic without getting lost in math.The students have a worksheet to accompany the lesson. The answers are in the powerpoint slides.