How Wave Interference May Help Explain Wavefunctions and Energy Quantization

ABSTRACT

Illustrations based on the use of radiative waves and oscillating strings are suggested to help explain the physical essence and develop intuitive understanding of the basic principles of quantum mechanics, such as quantization, shape of wavefunctions, and their fundamental features. The proposed approach is based on interference of time-independent or stationary waves, which statistically represent effective quantum mechanical particles. The physical significance of this principle is emphasized by tracing its origin back to the fundamental ideas of E. Schrödinger. The suggested explanations are suitable for chemistry undergraduate students and are compatible with covering optics and Fourier-transform spectroscopy in analytical chemistry classes.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author is immensely grateful to Prof. K. Thomasson and the students in his physical chemistry class, R. Cochran, J. Hicks, and E. Kastl, for drawing the figures. The help of Prof. M. Hoffmann (UND Chemistry Department) in refining the concepts presented in this paper is greatly appreciated. Extremely helpful comments of a reviewer of this article allowed for a significant improvement of the presentation and quality of this paper.