Heuristics for Simulations and Assignments

Tunneling Assignments

Link to the tunneling simulation: PhET Tunneling Simulation (website)

Three assignments are referenced in the paper. Two of these were used in the introductory course - one using tunneling simulation and one not using the simulation. The last link is a tutorial made for an upper-division quantum mechanics class, which also uses a simulation.

Introductory Course with Simulation (pdf)

Introductory Course without Simulation (pdf)

Advanced Course with Simulation (pdf)

Advanced Tunneling Tutorial Outline

After initial testing of the tunneling assignment in an introductory quantum mechanics class, we rewrote the tutorial for an upper-division quantum mechanics course. This tutorial implements the heuristics and promoted productive use of the simulation in preliminary trials. The general flow of the newly written tutorial is as follows:

1. Before use of the simulation:
1. Solve the Schrodinger equation in each of the three regions
2. Write down any appropriate boundary conditions
3. Make a plot of the wave function in each region
2. Using the simulation:
   1. Compare the differences between your plot of the wave function and what is shown on the simulation. Does everything agree?
   2. Play with the simulation and maximize the amount of transmission to region 3. What parameters effect this?
   3. According to the transmission coefficient T = (formula), what condition must be satisfied for maximum transmission to occur? Do you notice this in the simulation?
   4. For E < V0, plot the wave function.
   5. Maximize the amount of transmission. List all of the ways of doing this.
   6. Is there any way to completely eliminate the reflected wave? Is there any way to get 100% transmission in this case?