Visualizing quantum mechanics in an interactive simulation

https://lab.quantumflytrap.com/lab

by JoeDaDude • 4 years ago

171 15 4 years ago

lab.quantumflytrap.com

JoeDaDude• 4 years ago

See a full description of the simulation software at:

https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/optical-engineer...

westurner3• 4 years ago

Practical and neat. It says TypeScript and "optical table"? Where are the sources? https://lab.quantumflytrap.com/lab

"Visualizing quantum mechanics in an interactive simulation – Virtual Lab by Quantum Flytrap" Optical Engineering (2022) https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/optical-engineer... :

Abstract: Virtual Lab by Quantum Flytrap is a no-code online laboratory of an optical table, presenting quantum phenomena interactively and intuitively. It supports a real-time simulation of up to three entangled photons. Users can place typical optical elements (such as beam splitters, polarizers, Faraday rotators, and detectors) with a drag-and-drop graphical interface. Virtual Lab operates in two modes. The sandbox mode allows users to compose arbitrary setups. Quantum Game serves as an introduction to Virtual Lab features, approachable for users with no prior exposure to quantum mechanics. We introduce visual representation of entangled states and entanglement measures. It includes interactive visualizations of the ket notation and a heatmap-like visualization of quantum operators. These quantum visualizations can be applied to any discrete quantum system, including quantum circuits with qubits and spin chains. These tools are available as open-source TypeScript packages – Quantum Tensors and BraKetVue. Virtual Lab makes it possible to explore the nature of quantum physics (state evolution, entanglement, and measurement), to simulate quantum computing (e.g., the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm), to use quantum cryptography (e.g., the Ekert protocol), to explore counterintuitive quantum phenomena (e.g., quantum teleportation and the Bell inequality violation), and to recreate historical experiments (e.g., the Michelson–Morley interferometer).

westurner3• 4 years ago

Quantum-Flytrap/quantum-tensors https://github.com/Quantum-Flytrap/quantum-tensors :

A TypeScript package for sparse tensor operations on complex numbers in your browser - for quantum computing, quantum information, and interactive visualizations of quantum physics.

Quantum-Flytrap/bra-ket-vue https://github.com/Quantum-Flytrap/bra-ket-vue :

An interactive visualizer for quantum states and matrices.

#Q12 /? q12 quantum: https://www.google.com/search?q=q12+quantum

kwatsonafter• 4 years ago

This is really impressive-- In a talk some time back Bret Victor talks about interfaces that look and feel like this; where you can see the whole system, "running" and tinker with parts without, "re-compiling" or, "re-writing" programs. I always love finding things like this on HN.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfytHvgHybA&ab_channel=stupi...

stared2• 4 years ago

Author here.

Indeed, much inspiration comes from the data viz and explorable explanation community. Previously, I worked in D3.js. The idea behind the precursor, Quantum Game with Photons, was precisely to provide a composable environment for simulating any system.

In another recent publication, "Quantum games and interactive tools for quantum technologies outreach and education" (https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/optical-engineer...), there is a whole section "3.3. Explorable Explanations" written by me and no-one else than Nicky Case (https://ncase.me/).

dvh• 4 years ago

Three polarizer paradox is real mindfuck when you see it in real life for the first time.

ahelwer• 4 years ago

Unfortunately (as I learned from a commenter on this very website!) the paradox is easily explicable with classical EM wave mechanics unless you're firing & detecting single photons. This is the case with basically all quantum phenomena.

lisper3• 4 years ago

Well, of course. If you're not dealing with single photons then it's all just waves.

ford• 4 years ago

This is pretty cool - quantum behavior is really not intuitive and being able to play with it helps clarify it

I do wish each level had more explanation about the concept it's teaching. You can figure things out if you know a small amount about how quantum mechanics work (like knowing once you measure something the superposition collapses) but the game would be a better teaching tool if there were explanations before/after you complete a level

For people interested in QM but without a physics/math background Carlo Rovelli has a book called Helgoland that explains a lot of the basics in a non-technical way

westurner3• 4 years ago

if you know a small amount about how quantum mechanics work (like knowing once you measure something the superposition collapses)

FWIU it's possible to infer from nearby particles without incurring Heisenberg (and/or Bell's?) with Quantum Tagging?

"Helgoland" (2020) https://g.co/kgs/wZXRKQ

The other day I found a quantum circuit puzzle game called "QuantumQ" that has you add a Hadamard gate - statistical superposition - without requiring really any QM at all; which may imply that applied EA could solve the defined problems.

ray-pH/quantumQ: https://github.com/ray-pH/quantumQ

Quantum logic gate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_logic_gate #Hadamard_gate

samstave• 4 years ago

Would you please provide some "recipes".

Also, is it possible to create a "packet load" which was dependant on rules such as phase to deliver intact?

e.g. If I can assign text as the data packet - and then I need to find a way to get it there ungarbled/100% and see how perhaps a phase change results in packet losses -- but then how to as Dwave puts it "reach into different dimensions to pull data out" (He seriously made this claim, so obviously this whould be feature #1 - ;-)

avodonosov• 4 years ago

I am unable to place any new element in the lab. Is it because I am on a tablet?

lisper3• 4 years ago

No coincidence counter?

stared2• 4 years ago

There is - just use wires and classic AND gates, vide https://lab.quantumflytrap.com/u/PiotrMigdal/9FpVoffxR9OqnGh...

lisper3• 4 years ago

Ah. (Duh.) Thanks!

Visualizing quantum mechanics in an interactive simulation

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