Further improvements to the interface.

Here's how the user-interface for the 2D update to Schrödinger Lab is looking.  

I decided to go for a white background, principally because it fits better with the existing app color scheme.  

I still haven't merged the 2D and 1D codes.  It's going to take substantial rewiring and I'm not looking forward to the task.  Still, it looks like this is going to be the next step, so I can't put it off too much longer.

Finally, Schrödinger Lab will be receiving a minor update coming out in the next few days.  Here's the description:

Corrected minor error in which the labels and tables for the 'expectation values' and 'eigenfunctions' tables in the wave-function panel were mismatched.

Corrected error in which the momentum space thermal distribution was incorrectly calculated for non unit values of the mass.

Also added contact information in the help text accompanying the 'Schrodinger Labrador' logo in the top left corner.

Update on next update.

I've been continuing work on the next update which is planned to include 3D graphics for solutions of the 2D Schrödinger eqn.  Here's a screenshot:

In the above the purplish thing is the wavefunction psi(x,y) and the yellow blobs constitute one of the eigenfunctions of the potential well, which is drawn in transparent light blue. 

I've also got the mouse controls set up so the user can zoom, translate and rotate the 3D graphics in real time.

The next big step will be merging the new code into the Schrödinger lab code.  I think what I'll do is have a separate window for the 2D and 3D graphics, rather than cram everything into one window.

Future improvements to Schrödinger Lab

Thought I'd let you know about some possible improvements to Schrödinger Lab for a future update.

You have to start somewhere and so far SL has been solely focussed on the solution of the 1D Schrödinger Eqn.  In the next update I'm considering including some functionality to solve the 2D Schrödinger Eqn.  :

H psi(x,y)=i hbar d/dt psi(x,y)

The first thing I'll try is for simple 2D potentials V(x,y), but it would be interesting to look at solving the 2 particle Schrödinger eqn. for V(x) and allowing the user to select the fermionic case for antisymmetric wavefunctions.

There are a lot of interesting things to learn about the many-body S.E. which simply can't be demonstrated from only looking at 1 dimensional examples.  Even going to just the 2D case will greatly improve the educational value of the app, but of course- my real reason for doing this will be because I think it's cool and it's a chance to make some pretty graphics.

I've spent a few weeks messing around with some code and here's an example of the graphics I've come up with so far.  (The final version will probably look completely different.  This is a test!)

The pic shows the magnitude squared wavefunction |psi(x,y)|^2 for some arbitrary potential.  The coloring is done according to the phase.  I've also got a cut-off in which I'm not plotting any values |psi|^2<0.001.

 In the app you'll be able to rotate and zoom into the wave function to view it from all different angles.

In case anyone is interested, some tech-details- The plotting is done with OpenGL which is quite a nice graphics programming language and it's simple enough that even I can learn it (or at least the rudiments).   This is an orthographic display in which the viewing angle is represented internally by quaternions.

OK well, feel free to give me your opinions.

Contact Details

Questions related to my products can be directed to Christian J Burnham at christianjbdev@gmail.com.