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cyleung_2001
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Can the phenomenon of quantum tunneling be explained? Any theory that can account for it? Or is it just empirical? Would someone kindly answer my questions?
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MalleusScientiarum said:In fact, if you have an INFINITE potential of finite length separating two areas ... there is a nonzero chance that the particle will pop through that potential and end up on the other side.
For an infinite potential barrier of finite width, the transmission coefficient is zero. (However if the infinite barrier is infinitely narrow--that is, a delta-function potential--that's a different story.)MalleusScientiarum said:In fact, if you have an INFINITE potential of finite length separating two areas (experimentally this would be approximated by, for example, an enormous electric field that is confined spacially), there is a nonzero chance that the particle will pop through that potential and end up on the other side.
Absolutely.... but tunneling is perfectly accounted for in conventional quantum mechanics.
Quantum tunneling is a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where a particle can pass through a potential barrier even though it does not have enough energy to do so classically.
Quantum tunneling occurs due to the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics. In quantum mechanics, particles do not have a well-defined position or momentum. Instead, they exist as a probability distribution. This allows for the possibility of particles to exist on the other side of a potential barrier.
Quantum tunneling is a fundamental process in several natural phenomena, such as nuclear fusion in stars and radioactive decay. It also plays a crucial role in modern technology, such as in the operation of transistors in electronic devices.
In quantum computing, quantum tunneling is utilized to perform operations on qubits, which are the building blocks of quantum computers. It allows for the manipulation of the quantum state of a system, which is essential for performing quantum computations.
Yes, there are several theories that attempt to explain quantum tunneling, such as the Schrödinger equation, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, and the Copenhagen interpretation. However, there is still ongoing research and debate in the scientific community about the exact nature of quantum tunneling.