Quantum diffusion
Abstract
Quantum diffusion is studied via dissipative Madelung hydrodynamics. Initially the wave packet spreads ballistically, than passes for an instant through normal diffusion and later tends asymptotically to a sub-diffusive law. It is shown that the apparent quantum diffusion coefficient is not a universal physical parameter since it depends on the initial wave packet preparation. The overdamped quantum diffusion of an electron in the field of a periodic potential is also investigated; in this case the wave packet spreads logarithmically in time. Thermo-quantum diffusion of heavier particles as hydrogen, deuterium and tritium atoms in periodic potentials is studied and a simple estimate of the tunneling effect is obtained in the frames of a quasi-equilibrium semiclassical approach. The effective thermo-quantum temperature is also discussed in relation to the known temperature dependence of muon diffusivity in solids.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1001.1071,
title = {Quantum diffusion},
author = {Roumen Tsekov},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1001.1071},
year = {2011}
}