The Schrödinger Equation (schr) interface (), found under the Semiconductor branch () when adding a physics interface, solves the Schrödinger equation for the wave function of a single particle in an external potential. By default, the Schrödinger equation is added to all the domain selections of the interface.

When this physics interface is added, these default nodes are added to the Model Builder: Effective Mass, Electron Potential Energy, Zero Flux, and Initial Values. Then, from the Physics toolbar, add other nodes that implement, for example, boundary conditions or additional contributions to the potential energy. You can also right-click Schrödinger Equation to select physics features from the context menu.

The Label is the default physics interface name.

The Name is used primarily as a scope prefix for variables and coupling operators defined by the physics interface. Refer to such physics interface variables in expressions using the pattern <name>.<variable_name>. In order to distinguish between variables belonging to different physics interfaces, the name string must be unique. Only letters, numbers, and underscores (_) are permitted in the Name field. The first character must be a letter.

The default Name (for the first physics interface in the model) is schr.

Use Model properties to set the particle type and study-specific variables in the model.

Select an option from the Particle type list: Electrons (the default) or Holes.

For axisymmetric models, enter an integer for the azimuthal quantum number m (unitless). The default is 0.

Enter a constant value or a global parameter for the Energy E (J) for stationary studies. This specifies the total energy of the stationary Schrödinger equation.

The dependent variable (field variable) is for the particle Wave function psi. The name can be changed but the names of fields and dependent variables must be unique within a model.

The particle Wave function psi can be a scalar (single component, the default), or a vector (multiple component, by entering an integer larger than the default value of 1 in the input field Number of wave function components). Not all options or features are available for the multi-component wave function.