期刊名称:Physical Review ST Physics Education Research
电子版ISSN:1554-9178
出版年度:2020
卷号:16
期号:1
页码:1-15
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.010126
出版社:American Physical Society
摘要:We describe the development and in-class evaluation of a quantum interactive learning tutorial (QuILT) on quantum key distribution, a context which involves an exciting application of quantum mechanics. The protocol used in the QuILT described here uses single photons with nonorthogonal polarization states to generate a random shared key over a public channel for encrypting and decrypting information. The QuILT strives to help upper-level undergraduate students learn quantum mechanics using a simple two state system. It actively engages students in the learning process and helps them build links between the formalism and the conceptual aspects of quantum physics without compromising the technical content. The in-class evaluation suggests that the validated QuILT is helpful in improving students’ understanding of relevant concepts.