Time-dependent simulations of quantum waveguides using a time-splitting spectral method Original Research Article

The electron flow through quantum waveguides is modeled by the time-dependent Schrödinger equation with absorbing boundary conditions, which are realized by a negative imaginary potential. The Schrödinger equation is discretized by a time-splitting spectral method, and the quantum waveguides are fed by a mono-energetic incoming plane wave pulse. The resulting algorithm is extremely efficient due to the Fast Fourier Transform implementation of the spectral scheme. Numerical convergence rates for a one-dimensional scattering problem are calculated. The transmission rates of a two-dimensional T-stub quantum waveguide and a single-branch coupler are numerically computed. Moreover, the transient behavior of a three-dimensional T-stub waveguide is simulated.