The nextnano software is an excellent tool for studying fundamental examples in Quantum Mechanics typically found in textbooks, making it an ideal resource for classroom instruction.
Examples
- Black body spectrum
- 1D, 2D and 3D Schrödinger equation for arbitrary potential energy profiles
- Infinite quantum well
- Finite quantum well
- Quantum harmonic oscillator
- Triangular quantum well
- Double quantum well
- Matrix elements and selection rules
- Expectation value
- Perturbation theory
- Tunneling: Transmission function of potential step, potential barrier, quantum well and double barrier
- Periodic structures: Superlattice
- Energy bands
- Band structure (Tight-binding)
- Many more...
A preliminary handout containing some nextnano examples is available here.
Tight-binding (sp3s*)
Empirical tight-binding (sp3s*) band structure of GaAs, GaP, AlAs, InAs, C (diamond) and Si
What you can learn:- tight-binding band structure of bulk semiconductors
Dispersion in infinite superlattices: Minibands (Kronig-Penney model)
Dispersion in infinite superlattices: Minibands (Kronig-Penney model)
What you can learn:- Schrödinger equation in 1D with periodic boundary conditions
- superlattice dispersion
- band structure of an artificial crystal (quantum well crystal)
Triangular quantum well
What you can learn: - Energy levels and wave functions of a triangular quantum well
- Schrödinger equation
Double quantum well
What you can learn: - Energy levels and wave functions of a double quantum well as a function of quantum well separation (barrier width)
- Schrödinger equation
- Template feature of nextnanomat
Schottky barrier
What you can learn: - Metal-semiconductor interface: Fermi-level pinning; Ohmic contact vs. Schottky contact vs. Surface charge density vs. Surface doping
- Poisson equation
pn junction
GaAs pn junction (forward bias)
What you can learn:- doping
- Poisson equation
- apply a bias, drift-diffusion calculation, recombination
- Current-Poisson equation
Quantum well (Interband transitions)
Optical interband transitions in a quantum well - Matrix elements and selection rules
What you can learn:- Energy levels and wave functions of an infinite and finite quantum well, interband transition matrix elements (spatial wave function overlap), selection rules
- Schrödinger equation
Spherical Si Quantum Dot (Artificial Atom)
Hole energy levels of an "artificial atom" - Spherical Si Quantum Dot (6-band k.p)
What you can learn:- 3D simulation, quantum dot, spin-orbit splitting, artificial atom
- 6-band k.p Schrödinger equation in 3D