Wave Packet
View
Time t0.00
T_rev—
t/T_rev0.00
|ψ|² peak—
Quantum Revival
For an anharmonic oscillator E_n = ωn − χn², a Gaussian packet |ψ⟩ = Σcₙ|n⟩e^{−iEₙt/ℏ}:
T_rev = π/χ — full revival
T_rev/2, T_rev/3, ... — fractional revivals (Schrödinger cats)
The packet spreads, apparently disappears, then reconstructs perfectly. This is purely quantum — no classical analog.
For an anharmonic oscillator E_n = ωn − χn², a Gaussian packet |ψ⟩ = Σcₙ|n⟩e^{−iEₙt/ℏ}:
T_rev = π/χ — full revival
T_rev/2, T_rev/3, ... — fractional revivals (Schrödinger cats)
The packet spreads, apparently disappears, then reconstructs perfectly. This is purely quantum — no classical analog.