For most students, the summer holidays between Years 12 and 13 are a mixture of revision, preparation for future exams, and some much needed rest. But for eighteen lucky physics students, the fascinating world of Quantum physics was being revealed…
The Quantum in the Summer school (QitS) is in its tenth year this summer, offering the opportunity for a select set of students to spend a week at Bristol University, experiencing a range of theoretical and experimental physics as well as hearing from PhD students and industry professionals. Inspired by an organiser who had run a similar summer school in Mexico, QitS had its first event in 2015, and since then, there have been ten summer schools with a total of 163 students. I spoke to Meagan Hough, one of the organisers at Bristol University, about the aims of the project, and she said, “We aim to give an introduction to quantum physics and all its different aspects and applications through lectures and labs in a university setting. The more advanced topics such as ‘Quantum Thought Experiments’ do change year to year; we like to lean on the expertise of our volunteers and mix things up occasionally, as well as connecting with the quantum industry to provide sessions.”
Opening with icebreakers before diving straight into an introduction to Quantum Mechanics, the summer school was a delightful mix of theory and experiments presented by PhD students, industry professionals and lecturers. I spoke to Amber, one of the students who was on the course, and she said, “My favourite activity was probably the labs where we were trying to create interference patterns. Even though it was really fiddly and ours didn't work properly, it was great fun to get hands on.”
Personally, I really enjoyed the lab session on building a quantum eraser, which involved constructing a circuit of lasers, mirrors and polarisers in order to destroy and then recreate quantum information; a technique that is now being recreated on tiny optical chips. Another highlight was the lab tours, where we were able to see current PhD projects and have them explained to us. This was really inspiring as it demonstrated the possibilities that could be achieved with quantum technology.
As many universities like to see prospective students with an active interest in their subject, summer schools such as QitS are great events to demonstrate this enthusiasm, not least because you get to meet other people with similar interests from across the country. Even just applying on an off chance can inspire you to investigate what you find fascinating about physics. I would definitely recommend attending the applications webinar or watching it as a catch-up if you are able to, as it contains a lot of useful advice on how best to format your application. “We don't expect a lot of background knowledge,” said Meagan, “as the school teaches you from the ground up, but we want to know why you specifically want to attend a quantum summer school, so highlight why you find quantum interesting and/or where your interest came from.”
Beyond the fascinating science, the summer school was an excellent opportunity for those who attended to make new friends and have a taste of university life. Overall, I really enjoyed the Quantum in the Summer school, and would absolutely recommend it to anyone with an interest in the quantum world or in physics more generally, as it provides an excellent opportunity to experience both the theoretical and experimental parts of physics in far more depth than would otherwise be possible.
