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Abstract Quantum information science is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field that is attracting the attention of academics and industry experts alike. It requires talent from a wide variety of traditional fields, including physics, engineering, chemistry, and computer science, to name a few. To prepare students for such opportunities, it is important to give them a strong foundation in the basics of quantum information science, in which quantum computing plays a central role. In this study, we discuss the development, validation, and evaluation of a tutorial on the Bloch sphere, a useful visual tool for developing intuition about single quantum bits (qubits), which are the basic building block of any quantum computer. Students’ understanding was evaluated after they received traditional lecture-based instruction on the requisite topics, and again after engaging with the tutorial. We observe, analyze, and discuss their improvement in performance on concepts covered in the tutorial.
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This content will become publicly available on January 1, 2026
Investigating and improving student understanding of time dependence of expectation values in quantum mechanics using an interactive tutorial on Larmor precession
We studied the challenges students face with time dependence in quantum mechanics, specifically in the context of Larmor precession of spin. This research informed the creation and evaluation of a learning tutorial aimed at helping students grasp these concepts using a two-state system. The tutorial utilizes visualization tools to enhance students' intuition and emphasizes the integration of qualitative and quantitative understanding. We also examine how students applied semi-classical or quantum mechanical reasoning in their answers and assess the improvement they showed after working with the tutorial.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2309260
- PAR ID:
- 10597725
- Publisher / Repository:
- American Association of Physics Teachers
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- American Journal of Physics
- Volume:
- 93
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 0002-9505
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 52 to 57
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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