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STEP POTENTIAL
A particle moves from a region of lower potential to a region of higher potential (potential step). Part of the wave passes through the step and part is reflected, so it is possible to find the particle both to the right and to the left of the step.

Step by step images
| ψ ( x , t ) | 2 The right area is at higher potential. The animation shows the value of | ψ ( x , t ) | 2 in the plane in which the particle moves. In the white-orange area the value is much greater than zero, while it is practically zero in the blue areas. A part of the wave passes through the step, so after the collision, it is possible to find the particle either to the left or to the right of the barrier. In the right area the potential is higher, so the kinetic energy is lower, in fact we can see that the speed of the particle is lower.

Step by step images
Real [ ψ ( x , t ) ] The animation shows the real part of the wave function using a three-dimensional graph. In the right region the potential energy is higher, so the particle has a lower kinetic energy and a lower momentum p . In this case the De Broglie relation λ = h p predicts that the wavelength λ must be longer, just as you can see in this animation and, even better, in the next animation.

Step by step images
Real [ ψ ( x , t ) ] The animation shows the previous graph using a top view