How Does Quantum Tunneling Affect Particle Transmission?

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This discussion focuses on calculating the transmission coefficient (T) for quantum tunneling using the Schrödinger equation. The equations governing the wave functions in three regions are defined, and boundary conditions are applied to derive a system of equations. The user seeks assistance in determining the amplitude ratio (E/A) from the four equations, which is essential for calculating T. The discussion emphasizes the importance of algebraic manipulation and matrix representation in solving for unknown coefficients.

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71GA
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Lets say we have a tunelling problem in the picture, where ##W_p## is a finite potential step:

aFgQ4.png


If particle is coming from the left a general solutions to the Schrödinger equations for sepparate intervals I, II and II are:

\begin{align}
\text{I:}& & \psi_1 &= \overbrace{A e^{i\mathcal L x}}^{\psi_{in}} + \overbrace{Be^{-i \mathcal L x}}^{\psi_{re}}& \mathcal L &= \sqrt{\tfrac{2mW}{\hbar^2}}\\
\text{II:}& & \psi_2 &= C e^{\mathcal K x} + De^{-\mathcal K x}& \mathcal K &= \sqrt{-\tfrac{2m(W-W_p)}{\hbar^2}}\\
\text{III:}& & \psi_3 &= \underbrace{E e^{i \mathcal L x}}_{\psi_{tr}}& &\\
\end{align}

Where ##\psi_{in}## is an incomming wave, ##\psi_{re}## is a reflected wave and ##\psi_{tr}## is transmitted wave. I used the boundary conditions and got a system of 4 equations:

\begin{align}
{\tiny\text{boundary}}&{\tiny\text{conditions at x=0:}} & {\tiny\text{boundary conditions}}&{\tiny\text{at x=d:}}\\
A + B &= C + D & Ce^{\mathcal K d} + De^{-\mathcal K d} &= E e^{i \mathcal L d}\\
i \mathcal L A - i \mathcal L B &= \mathcal KC - \mathcal K D & \mathcal K C e^{\mathcal K d} - \mathcal K D e^{-\mathcal K d}&= i \mathcal L E e^{i \mathcal L d}
\end{align}

So now i decided to calculate coefficient of transmission ##T##:

\begin{align}
T &= \dfrac{|j_{tr}|}{|j_{in}|} \!=\! \Bigg|\dfrac{\dfrac{\hbar }{2mi}\! \left( \dfrac{d\overline{\psi}_{tr}}{dx}\, \psi_{tr} - \dfrac{d \psi_{tr}}{dx}\, \overline{\psi}_{tr} \right)}{\dfrac{\hbar}{2mi} \!\left( \dfrac{d\overline{\psi}_{in}}{dx}\, \psi_{in} - \dfrac{d\psi_{in}}{dx}\, \overline{\psi}_{in} \right) }\Bigg| \!=\! \Bigg|\dfrac{\frac{d}{dx}\big(\overbrace{Ee^{-i\mathcal L x}}^{\text{konjug.}}\big) Ee^{i\mathcal L x} - \frac{d}{dx} \left( Ee^{i\mathcal L x}\right)\! \overbrace{Ee^{-i\mathcal L x}}^{\text{konjug.}}}{ \frac{d}{dx}\big(\underbrace{Ae^{-i\mathcal L x}}_{\text{konjug.}}\big) Ae^{i\mathcal L x} - \frac{d}{dx} \left( Ae^{i\mathcal L x}\right)\! \underbrace{Ae^{-i\mathcal L x}}_{\text{konjug.}}}\Bigg|\! = \nonumber\\
&=\Bigg|\dfrac{-i\mathcal L Ee^{-i\mathcal L x} E e^{i \mathcal L x} - i\mathcal L E e^{i \mathcal L x} Ee^{-i \mathcal L x}}{-i \mathcal L A e^{-i\mathcal L x} Ae^{i \mathcal L x} - i \mathcal L A e^{i \mathcal L x}Ae^{-i \mathcal L x} }\Bigg|=\Bigg|\dfrac{-i\mathcal L E^2 - i\mathcal L E^2}{-i \mathcal L A^2 - i \mathcal L A^2}\Bigg|=\Bigg|\dfrac{-2 i \mathcal L E^2}{-2i\mathcal L A^2}\Bigg| = \frac{|E|^2}{|A|^2}
\end{align}

It accured to me that if out of 4 system equations i can get amplitude ratio ##E/A##, i can calculate ##T## quite easy. Could anyone show me how do i get this ratio?
 
Last edited:
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71GA said:
\begin{align}
{\tiny\text{boundary}}&{\tiny\text{conditions at x=0:}} & {\tiny\text{boundary conditions}}&{\tiny\text{at x=d:}}\\
A + B &= C + D & Ce^{\mathcal K d} + De^{-\mathcal K d} &= E e^{i \mathcal L d}\\
i \mathcal L A - i \mathcal L B &= \mathcal KC - \mathcal K D & \mathcal K C e^{\mathcal K d} - \mathcal K D e^{-\mathcal K d}&= i \mathcal L E e^{i \mathcal L d}
\end{align}

In the four equations above, you have five coefficients A, B, C, D, E. Imagine that A (the amplitude of the wave incoming from the left) is "given." Then you have four "unknowns" B, C, D, E. Solve for E. It will look like E = [something]·A.

There are obviously many routes to solving four equations in four unknowns, algebraically.
 
I know that i can for start write system in a matrix form. But how can i now get the ratio ##E/A## that i need?

\begin{align}
\begin{pmatrix}
-1 & 1 & 1 & 0 \\ i \mathcal L & \mathcal K & -\mathcal K & 0 \\ 0 & e^{\mathcal Kd} & e^{-\mathcal Kd} & -e^{i\mathcal Ld} \\ 0 & \mathcal Ke^{\mathcal Kd} & -\mathcal Ke^{-\mathcal Kd} & -i\mathcal Le^{i\mathcal Ld}
\end{pmatrix}
\begin{pmatrix}
B \\ C \\ D \\ E
\end{pmatrix}
=
\begin{pmatrix}
A \\ i\mathcal LA \\ 0 \\ 0
\end{pmatrix}
\end{align}
 

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