This software offers a free, Java-based physics simulation that enables users to observe periodic potentials in one dimension. It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in studying or exploring this area of physics.
When you launch the applet, you'll notice a graph of the potential on the top of the screen. The graph is accompanied by horizontal bands that show the energy levels. The potential is an array of square wells by default, also known as the Kronig-Penney model. You can easily swap out the potential model by selecting a different one from the Setup menu located on the top right corner of the screen.
Below the graph, you'll see the probability distribution of the particle's position. This lets you get a better understanding of how the particle behaves in a given potential. And below that, there's the band structure displayed as a dispersion curve. This is a graph of energy versus the crystal momentum k, with the energy bands shown as gray in the background. The particle's energy is represented by a red horizontal line.
To study a particular state, simply click on one of the energy bands either in the potential graph or the dispersion curve. The software lets you adjust the parameters of the potential easily, such as the width of the wells, using the sliders displayed conveniently on the right of your screen.
In conclusion, 1-D Quantum Crystal is an easy-to-use software that helps students and professionals alike visualize and understand quantum mechanics concepts related to one-dimensional crystals, lattices, and periodic potentials. The applet has proved to be incredibly valuable for those interested in research, and it's definitely worth trying out.
Version 1.0b: N/A