Illuminating Quantum with a Hands-On Lab Kit
SPS students provide context for the activity at the Bronx High School of Science.
Photo by Zain Zaidi.
Quantum information science is advancing quickly, with breakthroughs in quantum computing, communication, and simulation poised to reshape the future of technology. But the counterintuitive nature of quantum mechanics—combined with the lack of affordable, hands-on tools—makes it difficult for students to explore these concepts early in their education. In most high schools, quantum mechanics is either absent from the physics curriculum or briefly introduced through lectures on historic experiments. Rarely do students get to see quantum phenomena in action, much less explore them through interactive demonstrations.
To address this, the Stony Brook University SPS chapter launched a unique outreach project supported by an SPS Marsh W. White Award. Our team designed and built low-cost Mach-Zehnder interferometer lab kits that enable students to explore the quantum world. The project builds on the previous year’s outreach effort, in which we used interferometer kits to demonstrate classical interference. Through this year’s kits, our chapter hopes to make modern physics concepts more tangible to students and build their intuition. The kits invite students to explore superposition, entanglement analogs, and the quantum eraser.
The components of the Stony Brook SPS chapter’s quantum eraser lab kit. The laser diode, mirrors, and beam splitters are mounted in the 3D-printed frame. Also shown are the linear polarizers and the magnifying glass used as a lens to observe interference fringes.
Photo by Leah Reid.
The quantum eraser experiment reveals one of quantum mechanics’ most fascinating ideas: simply knowing “which path” a photon takes through an apparatus can destroy interference, but “erasing” that information restores it. Using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer—an optical setup that splits and recombines a beam of light—students can watch this concept play out in real time. By adding polarizers to distinguish or obscure the photon’s path, the interference pattern vanishes or reappears, illustrating how the presence or absence of information determines the outcome. Though the kits use laser light and can be described classically, the effect is directly analogous to the single-photon case, giving students an intuitive understanding of one of physics’ most subtle principles.
To make the project accessible, we kept production costs low. Instead of relying on professional-grade optics, we manufactured every component in-house using affordable materials. Each kit includes beam splitters made from micro- scope slides, mirrors created through chemical silvering, and a 3D-printed frame that requires no complex assembly. Laser diodes, polarizing film, and magnifying glasses complete the setup—all for under $30 per kit, compared to thousands for commercial alternatives.
Students at W. C. Mepham High School observe interference fringes with their interferometer lab kit, guided by an SPS student.
Photo by Zain Zaidi.
In late May and early June, SPS members visited three high schools across Long Island and New York City, leading more than 60 students in interactive lessons on interference, polarization, and quantum mechanics. Students were divided into lab groups to run the experiments themselves, with SPS volunteers offering guidance and answering questions. The hands-on activities were met with excitement and curiosity—one student even exclaimed, “I finally get it!” after seeing the results firsthand.
Teachers expressed interest in reproducing the kits for their own classrooms, and one student heading to Stony Brook asked how to get involved with SPS. Encouraged by the success, our chapter plans to publish full instructions and CAD files so any high school—or SPS chapter—can build its own kit. For Stony Brook SPS, this project proved that with creativity and collaboration, even quantum mechanics can become tangible, affordable, and fun.
