Physics
Quantum Harmonic Oscillator
Quick fact
The quantum harmonic oscillator’s energy levels are equally spaced, and even at the lowest possible energy (ground state), the oscillator never comes to rest—it has a 'zero-point energy' that can never be removed.
Why this is interesting
You know a ball rolling back and forth in a bowl, but what happens when that bowl is so small that the ball’s energy can only take certain specific values—like stairs instead of a smooth ramp?