Bohm trajectories and the tunneling time problem

From National Research Council Canada

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DOIResolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80118-1_6
AuthorSearch for: 1 ; Search for: 1 
Name affiliation
  1. National Research Council Canada. NRC Institute for Microstructural Sciences
FormatText
TypeBook chapter
Book titleScanning Tunneling Microscopy III
Series titleSpringer Series in Surface Sciences; no. 29
ISBN978-3-540-60824-0
978-3-642-80118-1
Pages105–140
Subjectwave packet; transmission time; transmission probability; quantum potential; tunneling time
Abstract
Although many approaches based on conventional interpretations of quantum mechanics have been developed for calculating the average time taken for an electron to tunnel through a potential barrier, a satisfactory solution remains elusive. These approaches are discussed very briefly, focussing on the question of whether the concept of ‘tunneling time’ or, more generally, ‘mean transmission time’ is a meaningful one. Then it is shown that Bohm’s causal or trajectory interpretation provides a well-defined and unambiguous prescription for calculating transmission times that are conceptually meaningful within that interpretation. Results of such calculations are presented for single and double rectangular barriers. The time-modulated rectangular barrier is treated in detail to emphasize the importance of considering distributions of transmission and reflection times and not just the mean transmission time. Finally, the possibility of determining tunneling times experimentally is discussed.
Publication date
PublisherSpringer
LanguageEnglish
Peer reviewedYes
NPARC number23002896
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Record modified2019-03-13
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