TL;DR
Use the site for learning. Don't try to break it, copy it, or misrepresent it. The physics content is accurate to the best of our knowledge but don't cite us in your PhD thesis without cross-referencing primary sources. That's basically it.
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using Quantum Portal at quantumportal.org (the "Site"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Site.
These Terms apply to all visitors, users, and anyone else who accesses the Site.
2. What Quantum Portal Is
Quantum Portal is a free, interactive educational platform designed to make quantum mechanics accessible through visualizations, simulations, and games. The Site is provided for educational and informational purposes only.
We are not a university, accredited institution, or professional scientific body. Content on the Site represents our best-faith effort to accurately explain quantum mechanics concepts at an accessible level — but it should not be treated as a substitute for formal academic study, peer-reviewed literature, or professional scientific guidance.
3. Use of the Site
You may use Quantum Portal for personal, educational, and non-commercial purposes. You agree not to:
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Site or its server infrastructure
- Use automated tools (bots, scrapers, crawlers) to bulk-download site content without permission
- Attempt to reverse-engineer, decompile, or extract the Site's source code for commercial use
- Introduce malware, viruses, or any code intended to disrupt, damage, or interfere with the Site
- Use the Site in any way that violates applicable local, national, or international law
- Misrepresent Quantum Portal content as your own original work
We reserve the right to block access to any user or IP address engaging in prohibited behavior without notice.
4. Intellectual Property
All original content on Quantum Portal — including but not limited to the interactive simulations, game code, visual design, written explanations, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP — is the intellectual property of Quantum Portal and is protected by copyright law.
What you may do:
- Share links to Quantum Portal pages freely
- Quote brief passages for educational commentary with attribution
- Use the site for personal study, classroom reference, or educational discussion
What you may not do without written permission:
- Reproduce substantial portions of the site's content on another website
- Copy, redistribute, or resell the site's code or simulations
- Create derivative works based on the site's original content for commercial purposes
- Frame or embed the Site within another website without permission
The underlying physics concepts described on this site are scientific knowledge in the public domain. Our explanations, interactive implementations, and creative presentation of those concepts are what we claim copyright over.
5. Educational Content Disclaimer
Quantum Portal makes every effort to present quantum mechanics accurately and accessibly. However:
- Some interactive demonstrations are simplified models designed to build intuition, not mathematically rigorous simulations. They illustrate concepts, not precise physical behavior.
- Quantum mechanics is an active area of research. Interpretations, applications, and understanding continue to evolve. Content on this site reflects the state of knowledge at the time of writing.
- If you are a student, researcher, or professional who needs precise information, please cross-reference our content with primary sources, textbooks, and peer-reviewed literature.
We welcome corrections. If you spot an error, please contact us via the About page.
6. Disclaimer of Warranties
Quantum Portal is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not warrant that:
- The Site will be available at all times or operate without interruption
- The Site will be free from errors, bugs, or security vulnerabilities
- The educational content is complete, accurate, or up to date in all respects
- The interactive simulations will function correctly on all devices and browsers
Your use of the Site is entirely at your own risk.
7. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Quantum Portal and its operators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from:
- Your use of, or inability to use, the Site
- Any errors or inaccuracies in the Site's content
- Unauthorized access to or alteration of your data
- Any other matter relating to the Site
In jurisdictions that do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitations of liability, our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.
8. Third-Party Links
The Site may contain links to third-party websites, academic papers, or external resources. These links are provided for convenience and educational reference. We do not endorse, control, or take responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or availability of any third-party site.
9. Modifications to the Site and Terms
We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Site at any time without notice. We may also update these Terms at any time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.
Continued use of the Site after any changes to these Terms constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you disagree with a change, your remedy is to stop using the Site.
10. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Site will be subject to the jurisdiction of the applicable courts.
11. Contact
Questions about these Terms can be directed to us via the About page.