A group of physics educators is exploring a fresh method for teaching quantum physics in educational settings. Historically, classroom instruction has mainly revolved around the historical development of quantum physics, which can create challenges for students. Utilizing the quantum measurement process as a case study, the researchers have recently published their initial empirical results related to learning quantum physics, especially in the context of two-state systems.
The research team, which includes Professor Philipp Bitzenbauer, a physics education expert from Leipzig University, focuses on qubits. These qubits are two-state systems that represent both the simplest and most significant quantum systems, applicable in a variety of scenarios. The ability to control and manipulate these qubits is crucial for contemporary quantum technologies.
Professor Bitzenbauer notes that hitherto, there have been no empirical studies regarding the effectiveness of teaching strategies utilizing two-state systems for enhancing students’ conceptual understanding. Additionally, there is a scarcity of scientific research examining the specific benefits and drawbacks of various teaching methods based on these systems. “By illustrating the quantum measurement process, which is a fundamental issue in quantum physics, we demonstrate how to develop a survey method suitable for intervention studies in the field. Generally, teaching strategies centered around two-state systems appear to facilitate learning more effectively than traditional methods,” explains the Leipzig-based physics educator and lead author of the study.
Focusing on two-state systems as a foundation for grasping quantum physics has garnered considerable attention in recent years. Professor Bitzenbauer asserts that this approach paves the way toward modern quantum technologies, including quantum cryptography and quantum computing. One goal of quantum cryptography is to secure communications against unauthorized access. Quantum computers are capable of solving problems that, despite the power of supercomputers, may take an impractically long time or remain unsolvable, such as factoring large numbers into their prime components.
Bitzenbauer and his team aim to make the revolutionary potential of quantum technologies accessible to school students. He has been invited by the American Physical Society (APS) to present the project’s findings at the APS Global Physics Summit in Los Angeles in March 2025.
He highlights that 2025 will mark the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, commemorating a century of quantum mechanics’ impact on history. The legacy continues today, with scientists discussing a second quantum revolution that is expected to influence the 21st century in a manner similar to how the first revolution transformed the 20th century. “Currently, the emphasis is on transitioning from many-body systems to managing and controlling individual electrons, individual photons, or, more broadly, single degrees of freedom within a quantum system. The basic and essential quantum system consists of only two degrees of freedom—the two-state system—which serves as the foundation for teaching quantum physics in schools,” the researcher states.
