The Two Dimensional Schrodinger Equation model simulates the time evolution of a two-dimensional wave packet as it moves towards a slit with an obstacle in it, both with variable widths. By changing three parameters via sliders provided, slit width, obstacle width, and initial position of the wave packet, different behaviors can be explored. These phenomena include interference, diffraction produced by a slit, a corner, and an obstacle, and bouncing of the wave packet. In addition, the angle of propagation for the diffracted part of the wave packet can be measured.

This simulation is described by a paper in the European Journal of Physics, "A versatile applet to explore the wave behaviour of particles, " J I Fernández Palop, 2009 Eur. J. Phys. 30 771, which outlines the simulation and how the usefulness of the simulation has been tested in the subject of quantum physics.

The Two Dimensional Schrodinger Equation model was created using the Easy Java Simulations (EJS) modeling tool.  It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.  Double clicking the ejs_qm_schrodinger2d.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.5 of Java (JRE).