An educational model of the Deutsch algorithm for secondary school

Abstract

In this paper, we present the outline of an educational path to introduce a crucial historical turnpoint of quantum information research—namely the Deutsch algorithm—to secondary school students. We discuss a basic elementarization strategy allowing students to single out and focus on the individual features of quantum mechanics involved in the different steps of the algorithm information processing phase, which can potentially be useful for the educational reconstruction of other algorithms and protocols. The sequence includes the experimental realization on the optical bench of an analogue of the Deutsch algorithm, working with classical coherent light. The educational path was tested both in curricular and out-of-school settings, and preliminary results will be discussed.