CQt SoftEdu: Programming a Graphical User Interface in ROOT as a Pedagogical Resource in Teaching Classical Quantum Tunneling Effect

The teaching of physics faces significant challenges in the abstract realm of quantum mechanics, where subatomic particles defy common perception. One strategy to facilitate the learning of this branch of physics is the use of pedagogical tools such as analogies. These not only make quantum mechanics more understandable to students by establishing relationships between quantum phenomena and more familiar situations, but also provide teachers with a greater amount of resources when dealing with the abstractions of this area of physics in the classroom. The current work presents the development and programming of a Graphical User Interface through CERN's ROOT framework. This virtual laboratory establishes an analogy between the phenomenon of Frustrated Total Internal Reflection and the Tunnel Effect in one dimension, which is commonly mentioned in the literature and demonstrates an intersection between quantum mechanics and classical optics. This scientific-technological resource employs an approach to the tunnel effect that varies parameters and analyzes its transmission coefficient.