Incorporating the Stern-Gerlach delayed-choice quantum eraser into the undergraduate quantum mechanics curriculum

As “Stern-Gerlach first” becomes increasingly popular in the undergraduate quantum mechanics curriculum, we show how one can extend the treatment found in conventional textbooks to cover some exciting new quantum phenomena. Namely, we illustrate how one can describe a delayed choice variant of the quantum eraser which is realized within the Stern-Gerlach framework. Covering this material allows the instructor to reinforce notions of changes in basis functions, quantum superpositions, quantum measurements, and the complementarity principle as expressed in whether we know “which-way” information or not. It also allows the instructor to dispel common misconceptions of when a measurement occurs and when a system is in a superposition of states.As “Stern-Gerlach first” becomes increasingly popular in the undergraduate quantum mechanics curriculum, we show how one can extend the treatment found in conventional textbooks to cover some exciting new quantum phenomena. Namely, we illustrate how one can describe a delayed choice variant of the quantum eraser which is realized within the Stern-Gerlach framework. Covering this material allows the instructor to reinforce notions of changes in basis functions, quantum superpositions, quantum measurements, and the complementarity principle as expressed in whether we know “which-way” information or not. It also allows the instructor to dispel common misconceptions of when a measurement occurs and when a system is in a superposition of states.