Transmission and Reflection Coefficients of Quantum Particles

quotient of wavenumbers

U < E

U > E

This Demonstration shows the transmission coefficient

T

and the reflection coefficient

R

of a quantum particle with energy

E

hitting a rectangular potential barrier. See how the height of the potential barrier

U

affects

T

and

R

by comparing the cases

U>E

and

U<E

. The dimensionless coordinate

ka

is the product of the wavenumber

k

for the wave inside the barrier and the barrier width

a

.