This animation shows the probability density of a high momentum Gaussian-shaped wave packet excited in the infinite square well potential.

The animation leads up to the 1/2 fractional revival, during which the quantum-mechanical wave function has split into two distinct sub-packets, traveling in opposite directions in the well.

More information on wave packets in the infinite square well can be found in the paper:

Fractional wave-function revivals in the infinite square well
David L. Aronstein and C. R. Stroud, Jr.
Phys. Rev. A 55, 4526 (1997).

Previous Animation: Decay of High Momentum Wave Packet In a Square Well

Animations

Next Animation: Shaping a THZ pulse by a thin screen

Web page maintained by
Hideomi Nihira ( nihira@optics.rochester.edu ).
Last modified 13 September 2006