  In a delayed-choice quantum eraser, interference fringes are obtained by
erasing which-way information after the interfering particle has already been
irreversibly detected. Following an introductory review of delayed-choice
experiments and quantum erasure, we describe the experimental realization of an
optical delayed-choice quantum eraser, suitable for advanced undergraduates,
based on polarization-entangled pairs of single photons. In our experiment, the
delay of the erasure is implemented using two different setups. The first setup
employs an arrangement of mirrors to increase the optical path length of the
photons carrying which-way information. In the second setup, we use fiber-optic
cables to elongate the path of these photons after their passage through the
polarization analyzer but prior to their arrival at the detector. We compare
our results to data obtained in the absence of a delay and find excellent
agreement. This shows that the timing of the erasure is irrelevant, as also
predicted by quantum mechanics. The experiment can serve as a valuable
pedagogical tool for conveying the fundamentals of quantum mechanics.
