Interactive learning tutorial on quantum key distribution

Seth Devore,Chandralekha Singh

doi:10.1103/physrevphyseducres.16.010126

Abstract

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.Received 6 August 2019Accepted 20 April 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.010126Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.Published by the American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasAssessmentInstructional materials developmentProfessional TopicsUpper undergraduate studentsPhysics Education Research

Highlights

Quantum mechanics is a challenging subject for undergraduate students and several investigators have focused on diverse topics, e.g., on visualizing potential energy diagrams, hands-on activities integrated with technology for teaching quantum mechanics, spontaneous models of conductivity, one-dimensional scattering, single photon experiments in undergraduate labs, representations for a spins-first approach, structural features of quantum notation, quantum curriculum based upon simulations, energy measurement and time dependence in quantum mechanics, epistemological framing in quantum mechanics, and student understanding of wave function in asymmetric wells [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16]
When we found that the quantum key distribution (QKD) quantum interactive learning tutorial (QuILT) was working well in individual administration to students in one-on-one interviews and the post-test performance was significantly improved compared to the pretest performance, the QuILT was administered in class to the undergraduate students in the quantum mechanics course for three years when the same instructor taught the course
The secure QKD protocol that students learn in the QuILT focuses on generation of a shared key securely over a public channel using two nonorthogonal polarization states of single photons

Summary

Introduction

Quantum mechanics is a challenging subject for undergraduate students and several investigators have focused on diverse topics, e.g., on visualizing potential energy diagrams, hands-on activities integrated with technology for teaching quantum mechanics, spontaneous models of conductivity, one-dimensional scattering, single photon experiments in undergraduate labs, representations for a spins-first approach, structural features of quantum notation, quantum curriculum based upon simulations, energy measurement and time dependence in quantum mechanics, epistemological framing in quantum mechanics, and student understanding of wave function in asymmetric wells [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16]. The QuILTs use an inquiry-based approach to learning in which students are asked a series of guiding questions and they strive to bridge the gap between quantitative and qualitative aspects of learning quantum mechanics. We are still in the process of collecting in-class data so the findings from that QKD QuILT based upon entangled spin-1=2 particles will be presented elsewhere

Methods

Results

Conclusion