Students Turn Everyday Materials into Quantum Computing Research
July 17, 2026
When Upper School Computer Science Teacher Dr. Charles Lena invited Truitt Baker '26, Zaphney Wooldridge '27, and Olly Smith '28 to take on a university-level quantum computing project this summer, the trio embraced the challenge—and completed it in just three days.
The students built an Analog Photonic Quantum Computer Simulator, a project based on concepts typically taught in undergraduate quantum mechanics and quantum computing courses. While students in the Applied Research Laboratory for Quantum Physics at The University of Texas at Austin are given an entire summer to complete the assignment, the ESD team designed, built, and tested their simulator in approximately 20 hours over three days.
Using everyday materials—including maple syrup, agave syrup, transparent tape, polarizing filters, a laser pointer, and several 3D-printed components—the students successfully implemented the Deutsch algorithm, gaining firsthand experience with advanced concepts rarely encountered in a high school classroom.
According to Truitt, completing the project in such a short timeframe made the experience especially rewarding.
"Students in the Applied Research Laboratory for Quantum Physics at UT Austin were assigned to complete this project over the summer," Truitt said. "While these students have the entire summer to complete it, Zaphney, Olly, and I managed to do it in three days—around 20 hours of work. We also 3D printed many of the pieces needed and developed ways to improve the setup that were later noted in our lab report."
The project required both technical skill and creative thinking. As the team worked through unexpected challenges, they improvised solutions, including repurposing a salt shaker as part of their experimental setup.
"It was a fun project that we got to spend two days working on, which allowed us to get to know each other…," Olly said. "We had a few road bumps that resulted in some creative solutions like using a salt shaker as a container. It was a valuable experience that I can safely say we all enjoyed having the chance to do."
By the end of the project, the students had not only completed a sophisticated quantum computing simulation but also strengthened their problem-solving skills, collaborated on innovative design improvements, and experienced the kind of hands-on research that prepares ESD students to pursue meaningful work beyond the classroom.
