MODELLING OF PHYSICAL PHENOMENA

Using LabView
Invited Talk, Bucharest, October 1999
Prof. Dr. R. Lincke
Inst. fr Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik der Universitt Kiel

Lissajous-Figures

Logistic Equation

Mother-Daughter-Problem

Feigenbaum-Diagram

Simple Harmonic Oscillator

QM Harmonic Oscillator

Fourier-Analysis

QM Radial Wavefunction of H-Atom

LISSAJOUS-FIGURES
Programming x/y-Graphs

One of the simplest exercises is

plotting functions. LissajousFigures are a suitable subject.
The trigonometric functions can be
calculated with the formula box or
with the graphical operators.

Different numerical inputs can be

studied here.

Mother-Daughter-Problem of Radioactivity
Solving 2 Coupled Differential Equations

This standard problem of

introductory physics is very
suited to teach the method of
iteration and 2-channel
display in LabView.

Simple Harmonic Oscillator

dry and viscous damping

The simple harmonic Oscillator is a very good

topic for learning numerical integration.
Comparing different types of friction is
another good reason for this application.

This standard problem of

introductory physics is very
suited to teach the method of
iteration and 2-channel
display in LabView.

As far as LabView is concerned, here

one can study the differences
between a graph and a chart.

Introduction to Chaos
Iterating the Logistic Equation
Solving the Logistic Equation is a very
suitable exercise to learn the concept
of iteration:

Xn+1 = P Xn ( 1 - Xn )
The program is exceedingly simple:

P = 2,90

P = 3,5

Introduction to Chaos
Feigenbaum Diagram

Xn+1 = P Xn ( 1 - Xn )
Here we vary P; after 40 iterations to
eliminate transients 60 values are plotted.

Rather than using 2 nested loops

for n and P, only one loop is beeing
used, and P is incremented after
100 steps. This is much faster.

The Harmonic Oscillator

Integrating the Schrdinger-Equation Using the EULER-Method

E=1,0005eV

E=5,06eV

E=3,007eV

E=4 eV:
this is no stationary state

The spring constant is set so that the zero-point energy is 1eV. When running the program one
has to adjust the energy until the wave function shows the required symmetry. This gives the
discrete energy levels 1,0005, 3.007 and 5,06 eV (errors due to the EULER-method!).

ns-Wave Functions of the H-Atom

by Integrating the Schrdinger-Equation Using the EULER-Method
n = 1 E = -13,607 eV
Step 10-10 m

Here the Schrdinger-equation is

integrated by the Euler-method using
shift registers and the formula node of
LabView.
When running the program, one has to
adjust the energy until the wave
function vanishes for r . This yields
the energy eigenvalues.

n = 2 E = -3,467 eV
Step 210-10 m

n = 3 E = -1,511 eV
Step 210-10 m

FOURIER Analysis
A Standard Application For LabView

This standard task can be solved very

easily in LabView since all required
procedures are available as .VIs:
Signal Generator, Amplitude and Phase
Spectrum, and Array to Bar Graph.
All relevant parameters can be varied
over a wide range.

This program will play an important role

in connection with many experiments.