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Visualizing Complex Time Dependence for Spin 1/2 System

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Highlights of the activity

  1. This kinesthetic activity is designed to help students visualize complex time dependence of the Spin 1/2 system.
  2. In pairs, students use their arms to represent the different time dependencies of eigenstates and superposition states of the Spin 1/2 system.
  3. The whole class discussion focuses on how different states vary with time.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

This activity provides a concrete and physical way of representing spin-1/2 states which have complex coefficients. By providing a geometric representation of states at particular times as well as time evolved states, students may begin to understand the importance of relative phases in quantum mechanics.

Reflections

Instructor's Guide


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