Zero Point Energy
				Index
		The vibrational states of molecules are quantized, as the molecules are bound quantum mechanical systems. For a simple diatomic molecule, the allowed vibrational energies are given by: Ev = (v + 1/2) hw/2p , where the vibrational quantum number, v, can hold integer values, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.. Unlike a classical oscillator where the lowest vibrational energy is zero (with the oscillator having zero momentum or kinetic energy) the quantum mechanical oscillator has a minimum energy for v = 0 of E0 = (1/2) hw/2p. This is known as the Zero Point Energy of the oscillator. This zero point energy results from Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle which places limits on the product of the uncertainties in position and momentum.