Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Quantum state tuning: numerical study of the quantum harmonic oscillator

The quantum harmonic oscillator is described by the Hermite equation.¹ The asymptotic solution is predominantly used to obtain its analytical solutions. Wave functions (solutions) are quadratically integrable if taken as the product of the convergent asymptotic solution (Gaussian function) and Hermite polynomial,¹ whose degree provides the associated quantum number. Solving it numerically, quantization is observed when a control real variable is "tuned" to integer values. This can be interpreted by graphical reading of Y(x) and |Y(x)|², without other mathematical analysis, and prove useful for teaching fundamentals of quantum chemistry to undergraduates.

harmonic oscillator; numerical solution; quantization


Sociedade Brasileira de Química Secretaria Executiva, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748 - bloco 3 - Superior, 05508-000 São Paulo SP - Brazil, C.P. 26.037 - 05599-970, Tel.: +55 11 3032.2299, Fax: +55 11 3814.3602 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: quimicanova@sbq.org.br