Quantum Theory Of Tunneling

Mohsen Razavy

• Publisher: World Scientific
• Year: 2003
• ISBN:
  9789812564887
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Physics
• Index: Physics

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical foundations of quantum tunneling, stressing the basic physics underlying the applications. The topics addressed include exponential and nonexponential decay processes and the application of scattering theory to tunneling problems. In addition to the Schrödinger equation approach, the path integral, Heisenberg's equations and the phase space method are all used to study the motion of a particle under the barrier. Extensions to the multidimensional cases and tunneling of particles with internal degrees of freedom are also considered. Furthermore, recent advances concerning time delay and tunneling times and some of the problems associated with their measurement are also discussed. Finally, some examples of tunneling in atomic, molecular, nuclear and condensed matter physics are presented.

Table of contents

• Preface
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 A Brief History of Quantum Tunneling
• Chapter 2 Some Basic Questions Concerning Quantum Tunneling
• Chapter 3 Semi-Classical Approximations
• Chapter 4 Generalization of the Bohr-Sommerfeld Quantization Rule and its Application to Quantum Tunneling
• Chapter 5 Gamow's Theory, Complex Eigenvalues, and the Wave Function of a Decaying State
• Chapter 6 Simple Solvable Problems
• Chapter 7 Tunneling in Confining Symmetric and Asymmetric Double-Wells
• Chapter 8 A Classical Description of Tunneling
• Chapter 9 Tunneling in Time-Dependent Barriers
• Chapter 10 Decay Width and the Scattering Theory
• Chapter 11 The Method of Variable Reflection Amplitude Applied to Solve Multichannel Tunneling Problems
• Chapter 12 Path Integral and Its Semi-Classical Approximation in Quantum Tunneling
• Chapter 13 Heisenberg's Equations of Motion for Tunneling
• Chapter 14 Wigner Distribution Function in Quantum Tunneling
• Chapter 15 Complex Scaling and Dilatation Transformation Applied to the Calculation of the Decay Width
• Chapter 16 Multidimensional Quantum Tunneling
• Chapter 17 Group and Signal Velocities
• Chapter 18 Time-Delay, Reflection Time Operator and Minimum Tunneling Time
• Chapter 19 More about Tunneling Time
• Chapter 20 Tunneling of a System with Internal Degrees of Freedom
• Chapter 21 Motion of a Particle in a Space Bounded by a Surface of Revolution
• Chapter 22 Relativistic Formulation of Quantum Tunneling
• Chapter 23 The Inverse Problem of Quantum Tunneling
• Chapter 24 Some Examples of Quantum Tunneling in Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Chapter 25 Examples from Condensed Matter Physics
• Chapter 26 Alpha Decay
• Index