Quantum Now: Minimalist Methods for Quantum Calculations and Experiential Learning,*

As an addenda to the “physics first” paradigm for early-science education we describe a course-based computational learning protocol that allows high-school students, undergraduates, graduates, K-12 teachers and seasoned researchers to move from addition and multiplication to fixed-basis quantum calculation without exposure to calculus and with minimal trigonometry. This “quantum now” software seed is part of a UTEP-PNNL vision for availing affordable quantum methods and education for all ages everywhere and to expose students to quantum mechanics while they are still in High School.  We describe the use of our PRETRAIN code,  relying only upon addition, multiplication, conditional commands and iteration to invert and diagonalize matrices, and solve for the particle in a corrugated box,  harmonic oscillators and the hydrogen atom. For the latter we compare fixed-basis minimization to the simulated-annealing-based non-linear optimization of the energy.  The protocol is intended for all that want to see what’s under the quantum hood and provide basic quantum knowledge to high-school students interested in quantum careers. Efforts to release in python and excel are described.  

 

[1] Popkin, Gabriel (July 2009). Physics First Battles for Acceptance,  APS News. 18 (7)

 https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/200907/physicsfirst.cfm.