Potential Barriers and Tunneling©
Mark David Ellison Wittenberg University P. O. Box 720 Springfield, OH 45501 United States mail to: mellison@wittenberg.edu
Abstract
This Mathcad document provides students with the opportunity to develop their understanding of the behavior of particles in the presence of finite barriers. Students first examine the behavior of a particle and the wave function before during and after interacting with the barrier. Color enhancement of the wave function plot clearly delineates the different regions and makes clear what has happened to the wavefunction associated with the particle. Both real and imaginary parts of the wave function are examined. Finally the probability distribution function is plotted. Next the Scanning Tunneling Microscopy is examined followed by applications of the tunneling concept to chemical reactions. Guided inquiry questions promote student interaction with the materials and active learning. The document would be appropriate to use in Junior and Senior level chemistry courses as well as in a first quantum chemistry course in graduate programs.
Commentary
Editor's Commentary
Keywords
Audiences: Upper-Division Undergraduate, Graduate Education / Research Pedagogies: Computer-Based Learning Domains: Physical Chemistry Topics: Mathematics / Symbolic Mathematics, Quantum Chemistry, Surface Science
Documents
File Name Description Software Type Software Version QuantumMechanicalTunneling.mcd Mathcad Computational Document Mathcad QuantumMechanicalTunneling8.mcd Mathcad 8 Computational Document Mathcad 8 QuantumMechanicalTunneling.pdf Read-Only Document JCE Subscribers only: name and password or institutional IP number access required.
Citations
Ellison, Mark. J. Chem. Educ.2004, 81, 608.
Comments to: Mark Ellison
©Copyright 2004 Journal of Chemical Education