Needs explanation for P in quantum tunneling formula

[DanteKennedy]

TL;DR

I've learned that quantum tunneling probability can be reduced by introducing decoherence, but I still want to know about the exact mechanism for it

I found this formula about transmission probability for particle tunneling and decay constant. I suspect that as particle goes decoherence, the reduced planck constant approaching zero. Is that true? How much and how exactly does decoherence mess with quantum tunneling

 

[PeterDonis]

I found this formula

Where? Please give a reference.

 

[PeterDonis]

I suspect that as particle goes decoherence, the reduced planck constant approaching zero. Is that true?

No. Planck's constant is a constant. It doesn't change no matter what happens to any quantum system.

 

[PeterDonis]

I've learned that quantum tunneling probability can be reduced by introducing decoherence

Where? Please give a reference.

 

[DanteKennedy]

Where? Please give a reference.

I did a google search and asking Claude llm about the general knowledge, but I still don't trust/understand enough about the topic I want to learn. Perhaps you can help me understanding the relationship between quantum tunnelling probability and decoherence?

 

[DanteKennedy]

Where? Please give a reference.

Also, do you have any recommendations for online resources about it?

 

[DanteKennedy]

No. Planck's constant is a constant. It doesn't change no matter what happens to any quantum system.

Oh thanks, I think my sources are misleading

 

[PeterDonis]

asking Claude llm

Please note that we do not recommend LLMs as sources.

I still don't trust/understand enough about the topic I want to learn.

Do you mean the specific topic of quantum tunneling, or QM in general?

I would say that it's going to be very, very difficult to understand the former, if you don't have a good basic understanding of the latter. Quantum tunneling in particular is a topic about which there is a lot of misinformation in pop science sources.

The best way to learn QM in general is to take the time to work through a basic QM textbook. My personal preference is Ballentine, but that's usually considered a high level Undergraduate or Graduate text, and you marked this topic as High School. Unfortunately I don't know of a good High School level introduction to QM in general--it's a topic that wasn't even taught in high school when I went. (Never mind how long ago that was...)

Perhaps you can help me understanding the relationship between quantum tunnelling probability and decoherence?

If you are thinking that this relationship is something that is standardly taught as part of teaching QM, or a well recognized QM topic, I don't think it is; at any rate I'm not aware of it. That's why I asked for references. If your only references are a Google search and LLMs, then I would agree with you that your sources are misleading you.

 

[DanteKennedy]

Quantum tunneling in particular is a topic about which there is a lot of misinformation in pop science sources.

Thanks for all the info. But I wonder if you recognized some examples of misleading knowledge regarding quantum tunneling probability in general? It may help me identify some in the future

 

[PeterDonis]

I wonder if you recognized some examples of misleading knowledge regarding quantum tunneling probability in general? It may help me identify some in the future

The best way to avoid misleading knowledge is to be very careful what sources you look at (the best ones are textbooks and peer-reviewed papers). Trying to compile a list of misleading things so you can spot them and ignore them when looking at a wider variety of sources is not feasible.

 

[DanteKennedy]

The best way to avoid misleading knowledge is to be very careful what sources you look at (the best ones are textbooks and peer-reviewed papers).

Pardon me for bothering again > - <
Can you help me understand the general, surface level relationship between decoherence and quantum tunneling rate in a multi particle system? I still haven't bought any books for in depth understanding yet, as physics is not my career choice and I'm busy with something else, but I love to learn it

 

[PeterDonis]

Can you help me understand the general, surface level relationship between decoherence and quantum tunneling rate in a multi particle system?

I'm not aware of any such relationship. Why do you think there is one?

 

[DanteKennedy]

I'm not aware of any such relationship. Why do you think there is one?

In my understanding of decoherence, it is when a quantum particle lost its "quantumness", like superposition, due to interaction with the environment. I just intuitively think that decoherence might suppress quantum tunneling due to the act of measurement or interaction somehow pinning the particles position, making it appear classical. Maybe my intuition is wrong?

 

[PeterDonis]

In my understanding of decoherence, it is when a quantum particle lost its "quantumness"

This is not correct.

I just intuitively think that decoherence might suppress quantum tunneling due to the act of measurement

Quantum tunneling does not involve decoherence or measurement.

Maybe my intuition is wrong?

Yes, it is. See above.

 

[PeterDonis]

The OP question has been answered, and this thread is closed.

@DanteKennedy we've established that whatever sources you have used to build an understanding of QM up to now are not reliable. That means you need to discard your current understanding of QM and build a new one from better sources (and I've given some advice about that in this thread). It also means that asking questions here at PF based on your current understanding is not likely to help, because the only answers you're likely to get are the kind you got in this thread, that your question doesn't make sense because it's based on mistaken premises. That's not a good use of your time, and it's not a good use of other PF users' time. Please bear that in mind.