Excel: graphing the quantum harmonic oscillator eigenfunctions, part 1

The video demonstrates how to visualize the four (4) lowest energy eigenfunctions of the quantum harmonic oscillator, specifically for carbon monoxide (CO). The video calculates the value of each wave function as a function of the displacement of the equilibrium bond length, as well as the value of the associated probability density, in the program Microsoft Excel (R).

Previous videos have allowed the student to generate the eigenfunctions for any allowed value of a quantum number, but there was no way to do that in this case, and still keep the worksheet understandable. One can, however, easily change the masses of the two (2) atoms involved in the bond, as well as the vibrational frequency in wavenumbers.

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