Atom in a Box is an application that aids in visualizing the Hydrogenic atomic orbitals, a prime and otherwise unwieldy example of quantum mechanics. Unlike other tools in this category, this program raytraces through a three-dimensional cloud density that represents the wavefunction's probability density and presents its results in real-time (up to 48 frames per second on the latest hardware). The user interface is very interactive and provides a wide degree of flexibility. It contains all 140 eigenstates up to the n=7 energy level and the allowed spectral transitions between those eigenstates. It also allows a state formed by a superposition of up to eight of those eigenstates allowing for over 3 trillion possible states. The program can display a wavefunction as a picture of a cloud, use color as phase, plot in red-cyan left/right for 3D glasses, and slice the wavefunction.
Full Specifications
What's new in version 1.1
Universal Application release for PowerPC and Intel Macs
Updates include:
QuickTime export of orbital animations.
Endian conversions for file and disk access.
Adapted source to Xcode.
OS X-compliant application and file icons and plst data.
Correction of an issue with sound buffers for the orbital sound.
New recognition of horizontal and vertical scroll wheels, for use with Mighty Mouse's scroll ball.
General
ReleaseAugust 25, 2008
Date AddedMay 22, 2006
Version1.1
Operating Systems
Operating SystemsMac OS X 10.4 PPC, Mac OS Classic, Macintosh, Mac OS X 10.4 Intel, Mac OS X 10.3, Mac OS X 10.0, Mac OS X 10.2, Mac OS X 10.3.9, Mac OS X 10.1