Quantum Harmonic Oscillator: Difference between revisions
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The Quantum Harmonic Oscillator is the quantum parallel to the classical simple harmonic oscillator. The key difference between these two is in the name. In the quantum harmonic oscillator, energy levels are ''quantized'' meaning there are discrete energy levels to this oscillator, (it cannot be any positive value as a classical oscillator can have). At low levels of energy, an oscillator obeys the rules of quantum mechanics. So the QHM has numerous applications such as molecular vibrations. These energy levels, denoted by <math>E_n, n=1,2,3... </math> and is evaluated by the relation: <br><math> E_n=(n+\frac{1}{2})\hbar\omega </math><br> | The Quantum Harmonic Oscillator is the quantum parallel to the classical simple harmonic oscillator. The key difference between these two is in the name. In the quantum harmonic oscillator, energy levels are ''quantized'' meaning there are discrete energy levels to this oscillator, (it cannot be any positive value as a classical oscillator can have). At low levels of energy, an oscillator obeys the rules of quantum mechanics. So the QHM has numerous applications such as molecular vibrations. These energy levels, denoted by <math>E_n, n=1,2,3... </math> and is evaluated by the relation: <br><math> E_n=(n+\frac{1}{2})\hbar\omega </math><br> | ||
Where <math>n</math> is the principle quantum number, <math>\hbar</math> is the reduced planks constant, and <math>\omega</math> is the angular frequency of the oscillator.<br><br> | Where <math>n</math> is the principle quantum number, <math>\hbar</math> is the reduced planks constant, and <math>\omega</math> is the angular frequency of the oscillator.<br><br> | ||
Below is a comparison of the positional probabilities of the classical and quantum harmonic oscillators for the principal quantum number <math>n=3</math><br> | |||
Revision as of 09:14, 6 December 2022
The Quantum Harmonic Oscillator is the quantum parallel to the classical simple harmonic oscillator. The key difference between these two is in the name. In the quantum harmonic oscillator, energy levels are quantized meaning there are discrete energy levels to this oscillator, (it cannot be any positive value as a classical oscillator can have). At low levels of energy, an oscillator obeys the rules of quantum mechanics. So the QHM has numerous applications such as molecular vibrations. These energy levels, denoted by [math]\displaystyle{ E_n, n=1,2,3... }[/math] and is evaluated by the relation:
[math]\displaystyle{ E_n=(n+\frac{1}{2})\hbar\omega }[/math]
Where [math]\displaystyle{ n }[/math] is the principle quantum number, [math]\displaystyle{ \hbar }[/math] is the reduced planks constant, and [math]\displaystyle{ \omega }[/math] is the angular frequency of the oscillator.
Below is a comparison of the positional probabilities of the classical and quantum harmonic oscillators for the principal quantum number [math]\displaystyle{ n=3 }[/math]