A Complex Gaussian Function

k

0

0

a

0.3

This Demonstration shows different ways to visualize a complex Gaussian function of the form

ψ(x)=Nexp-

2

x

2

a

exp[i

k

0

x]≡ψ(x)

ϕ(x)

e

. The upper panels show the modulus

ψ(x)

and the argument

ϕ(x)

separately, while the lower left panel shows the real and imaginary parts. In the bottom right panel, the shape is the modulus and the coloring corresponds to the argument (the range 0 to

2π

varies from red to magenta).