Energy of a Tunnelling Particle

Thread starter Domnu
Start date Aug 14, 2008
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Energy Particle Tunnelling

In summary, the energy of a tunnelling particle refers to the amount of energy needed for a particle to pass through a potential barrier. It is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics and is affected by factors such as the potential barrier's height and width, as well as the particle's mass and velocity. The energy can be calculated using the Schrödinger equation and has real-world applications in fields such as scanning tunneling microscopes, nuclear physics, and quantum computing.

Aug 14, 2008

Domnu

I'm just making sure... after a particle tunnels through a potential barrier, assuming that there are no forces acting on the particle, like friction, etc. which dissipates energy, the particle should have the same energy as it did before it tunneled through, right?

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Aug 14, 2008

Avodyne

Science Advisor

Right!

1. What is the "Energy of a Tunnelling Particle"?

The energy of a tunnelling particle refers to the amount of energy required for a particle to pass through a potential barrier, such as a wall or a barrier created by an electric field.

2. How is the energy of a tunnelling particle related to quantum mechanics?

The concept of tunnelling is a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics and is related to the uncertainty principle, which states that there is a probability for a particle to exist in a region that is classically forbidden.

3. What factors affect the energy of a tunnelling particle?

The energy of a tunnelling particle is affected by the height and width of the potential barrier, as well as the mass and velocity of the particle.

4. How is the energy of a tunnelling particle calculated?

The energy of a tunnelling particle can be calculated using the Schrödinger equation, which is a mathematical equation used to describe the wave-like behavior of particles at the quantum level.

5. What are some real-world applications of the energy of a tunnelling particle?

The concept of tunnelling is used in various technologies, such as scanning tunneling microscopes, which are used to image surfaces at the atomic level. It is also important in fields such as nuclear physics and quantum computing.