Quantum Harmonic Oscillator

The quantum harmonic oscillator is a fundamental model in <a href="/article/quantum-mechanics">quantum mechanics</a> that describes how tiny particles behave when they are trapped in a potential well, like a mass on a spring. Unlike its classical counterpart, its energy is quantized, meaning it can only exist at specific, discrete energy levels, and it always possesses a minimum "zero-point" energy. This model is crucial for understanding vibrations in molecules, light, and many other quantum systems.