The QM Wigner program displays the time evolution of the position-space wave function and the associated quasi-probability distribution in phase space via the Wigner function. The default wave function is a Gaussian wave packet in a harmonic oscillator. Additional states and other potential energy functions can be specified using the Display | Switch GUI menu item.
QM Wigner is one of 18 Open Source Physics programs that model time-dependent quantum mechanics using an energy eigenstate expansion. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the qm_wigner.jar file will run the program if Java is installed. Other programs provide additional visualizations. They can be found by searching ComPADRE for Open Source Physics, OSP, or Superposition.
Please note that this resource requires
at least version 1.5 of Java.
QM Wigner Program Documentation
A pdf document that briefly describes the QM Wigner program. It describes how to use the qm_wigner.jar file and contains short tutorial exercises and explorations for use with the qm_wigner.jar file. download 562kb .pdf
Published: April 8, 2008
previous versions
QM Wigner Program Distribution
The materials distributed in this zip file are in support of the QM Wigner program. This distribution contains the QM Wigner program, documentation and exercises, and additional parameter sets (xml files) for use with the QM Wigner program. download 1195kb .zip
Published: April 8, 2008
previous versions
W. Christian, Computer Program QM WIGNER PROGRAM, Version 1.0 (2008), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=6813&DocID=294).
Christian, W. (2008). QM Wigner Program (Version 1.0) [Computer software]. Retrieved December 12, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=6813&DocID=294
%A Wolfgang Christian %T QM Wigner Program %D April 1, 2008 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=6813&DocID=294 %O 1.0 %O application/java
%0 Computer Program %A Christian, Wolfgang %D April 1, 2008 %T QM Wigner Program %7 1.0 %8 April 1, 2008 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=6813&DocID=294
Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
The QM Wigner Program is used by the Numerical Time Development in Quantum Mechanics Using a Reduced Hilbert Space Approach Package's curricular materials for the teaching of quantum mechanics.