• Open Access

Student ability to distinguish between superposition states and mixed states in quantum mechanics

Gina Passante, Paul J. Emigh, and Peter S. Shaffer
Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 11, 020135 – Published 25 November 2015
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Abstract

Superposition gives rise to the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and is therefore one of the concepts at the heart of quantum mechanics. Although we have found that many students can successfully use the idea of superposition to calculate the probabilities of different measurement outcomes, they are often unable to identify the experimental implications of a superposition state. In particular, they fail to recognize how a superposition state and a mixed state (sometimes called a “lack of knowledge” state) can produce different experimental results. We present data that suggest that superposition in quantum mechanics is a difficult concept for students enrolled in sophomore-, junior-, and graduate-level quantum mechanics courses. We illustrate how an interactive lecture tutorial can improve student understanding of quantum mechanical superposition. A longitudinal study suggests that the impact persists after an additional quarter of quantum mechanics instruction that does not specifically address these ideas.

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  • Received 1 June 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.11.020135

This article is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 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 Society

Authors & Affiliations

Gina Passante, Paul J. Emigh, and Peter S. Shaffer

  • Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA

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Issue

Vol. 11, Iss. 2 — July - December 2015

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