English

Quantum tunneling time

Quantum Physics 2009-11-10 v1

Abstract

A simple model of a quantum clock is applied to the old and controversial problem of how long a particle takes to tunnel through a quantum barrier. The model I employ has the advantage of yielding sensible results for energy eigenstates, and does not require the use of time-dependant wave packets. Although the treatment does not forbid superluminal tunneling velocities, there is no implication of faster-than-light signaling because only the transit duration is measurable, not the absolute time of transit. A comparison is given with the weak-measurement post-selection calculations of Steinberg.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0403010,
  title  = {Quantum tunneling time},
  author = {P. C. W. Davies},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0403010},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

10 pages, no figures, research paper