Quantum Composer
Quantum Composer is an interactive tool for visualizing and simulating quantum mechanical concepts and systems. It consists of a graphical user interface where one can drag-and-drop nodes to create a flow-based simulation. The powerful and versatile quantum visualizations make it relevant for use in education and research. We provide a suite of exercises suitable for students from high school through to the graduate level.
Quantum Composer is currently available as a free download for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Note that there is some instability on newer versions of MacOS and Linux, and we are actively working to fix that!
Version 1.4 of Composer is coming soon with some excellent refinements to how nodes and plots look and act, stability and usability with different operating systems! Beta versions are now available on the download page!
Quantum Composer consists of a drag-and-drop interface to create an easy to use flexible simulation environment. It consists of a node tray from where different nodes can be selected and connected to build a simulation. This tray is divided into conceptual categories such as Quantum Basics, Operators, and Plots for easy selection of nodes. Learn more about the nodes and their functionality in the Reference page and how to build a simulation from scratch from the Tutorial page.
The backbone of the tool is based on QEngine, our numerical C++ library for quantum simulation and quantum optimal control. The tool can currently simulate, both in a time-dependent and time-independent setting the following systems in 1D: single-particle (Schrödinger equation) and mean-field Bose-Einstein Condensate (Gross-Pitaevskii equation) systems.
"I definitely recommend Composer to all instructors of introductory quantum mechanics courses...It only takes a minute from specifying the Hamiltonian to seeing the solutions." -Marcel Mudrich, Professor, Aarhus University
Quantum Composer for education
Examples of exploration of different scenarios:
- How the energy spectrum of a system changes with the shape of the potential
- Superposition, time-dependence, and expectation values
- Tunneling through barriers
- Multi-well potentials and band structure
Quantum Composer for research
In addition to being an educational tool, Quantum Composer can also be used as a research-assisting tool. It is relevant across different
project stages (e.g. in precursor studies or post-analysis) in a variety of settings, notably in quantum optimal control problems or the determination of trapping geometries relevant to ultracold atom experiments.
Examples of exploration of different scenarios:
- Quantum optimal control (QOC) problems
- Optimization of particle and BEC transport
- Cold atoms trapped in optical lattices
Video: Explore time dynamics
Video: Explore quantum optimal control problems
Read more about:
Quantum Composer can be used by instructors and students to learn, teach and simulate quantum mechanic concepts and systems.
Here are some of the ways the tool can be used in an educational setting from an advanced high-school level through to the graduate level:
- Visualization: Visualize a quantum mechanical concept or system for students during a lecture
- Exploration: Explore different kinds of quantum systems that are not necessarily covered in your curriculum
- Exercises: Prepare exercises or download our exercises with pre-made simulations here
- Dissemination and Outreach tool: Facilitate dissemination and outreach projects that allow expert researchers to communicate their ideas and methods to students at a more introductory level
- Workshops: Structure a self-contained, workshop-style curriculum that instructs on aspects of quantum mechanics relevant to the individual setting
- Quantum Optimal Control introduction: Use Quantum Composer to build an introductory workshop on quantum control and optimization
Download Quantum Composer
Quantum Composer is currently available as a free download for Windows, macOS, and Linux
Supported versions:
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 8.1
Windows 10