The Gaussian Wave Packet: Step Scattering model simulates the time evolution of a free Gaussian wave packet in position space when it is incident on a potential energy step.  The position-space wave functions are depicted using three colors on the graph: black which depicts the absolute square of the wave function, blue which depicts the real part of the wave function, and red which depicts the imaginary part of the wave function.  The user may change the height of the potential step or the wave packet energy by dragging circles on the energy graph. The initial width of the packet may also be changed. Also shown are the theoretical and calculated transmission and reflection coefficients.

The Gaussian Wave Packet: Step Scattering 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_gaussian_step.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.

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