Quantum bits (qubits) are quantum mechanical two-level systems which fulfill certain practical criteria required for quantum computing. In the linear regime of small excitations, the dynamics of classical coupled oscillators, such as physical pendula, resemble one-to-one the qubit dynamics. Therefore, driven macroscopic pendula can be used to visualize the wave mechanics of a qubit.

 The lecture will comprise a detailed introduction to quantum dot based qubits and the related experimental methods, in particular those used to study the coherent dynamics of qubits. Then, using macroscopic physical pendula, we will explore a descriptive classical equivalent of the experiments. The experimental analysis will be accompanied by a direct comparison of the quantum mechanical solution and the classical equations of motion.

The lecture will impart a variety of experimental skills based on semiconductor quantum dots and macroscopic pendula with modulated coupling and consolidate important concepts including driven quantum mechanical two-level systems or classical coupled oscillators, Rabi oscillations, Landau-Zener transitions, and Fourier transformations, among other things.