1. Overview

In this immersion participants will learn to perform advanced undergraduate laboratory experiments that explore modern aspects of quantum mechanics. The laboratories all involve studying the behavior of single photons and correlated photon pairs, and include experiments on "proving" that light contains photons, single-photon interference, and tests of local realism. Additionally, the immersion will contain discussions of the physics behind these experiments, and how they can be integrated with a junior/senior level quantum mechanics course.

2. Apparatus

The light source for all of the experiments uses a blue diode laser to pump a nonlinear crystal, which produces photon pairs via spontaneous parametric down conversion. The photons are coupled into optical fibers, detected with single photon counting modules, and the photo-count data is processed with an FPGA-based coincidence counting unit. Final data acquisition and analysis is performed on a PC using LabView. Participants will become familiar with all aspects of the apparatus, especially the optical alignment. All equipment necessary to perform these experiments (including laser safety equipment) will be provided. Participants should bring a copy of Quantum Mechanics: Theory and Experiment, by Mark Beck (Oxford Univ. Press, 2012) to the immersion, as the laboratories we will perform are described there. It would also be helpful for participants to have read through the presentation of these laboratories in the text prior to arriving at the immersion, but that is not essential.

3. Schedule

Day-1, Morning
• Initial alignment
• Properties of spontaneous parametric down conversion

Day-1, Afternoon
• "Proving" that light consists of photons: The Grangier experiment

Day-2, Morning
• Alignment of the polarization interferometer

Day-2, Afternoon
• Single-photon interference
• The quantum eraser

Day-3, Morning
• Alignment of the two-crystal source
• Properties of polarization-entangled photons

Day-3, Afternoon
• Tests of local realism (Bell-CHSH, Hardy)

During each session there will be time devoted to discussing the theory underpinning the experiments, as well as suggestions for integrating the experiments with a quantum mechanics course. For more information on the experiments, including a recent parts list, please visit http://www.reed.edu/~beckm/QM/ . The approximate cost for implementing the experiments is $20,000.