Teaching Basic Quantum Mechanics in Secondary School Using Concepts of Feynman's Path Integrals Method

This paper discusses the teaching of basic quantum mechanics in high school. Rather than following the usual formalism, our approach is based on Feynman’s path integral method. Our presentation makes use of simulation software and avoids sophisticated mathematical formalism. We start by discussing t...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Fanaro, Maria de Los Angeles, Otero, Maria Rita, Arlego, Marcelo José Fabián
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2012
País:Argentina
Recursos:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/76541
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/76541
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:TEACHING
QUANTUM
MECHANICS
SECONDARY
SCHOOL
PATH
INTEGRALS
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/5.3
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/5
Descrição
Resumo:This paper discusses the teaching of basic quantum mechanics in high school. Rather than following the usual formalism, our approach is based on Feynman’s path integral method. Our presentation makes use of simulation software and avoids sophisticated mathematical formalism. We start by discussing the experimental results that would be observed in an idealized double-slit experiment. With the assistance of software simulations, we focus on the changes observed as the objects’ masses are reduced from macroscopic to atomic values. After that we introduce the basis of quantum mechanics by means of the concepts of path integrals, which henceforth we will call “sum of all alternatives.” Finally, we show how the transition from classical to quantum behavior naturally emerges within the framework of “sum of all alternatives.”