English

Tunnelling necessitates negative Wigner function

Quantum Physics 2021-01-04 v1

Abstract

We consider in what sense quantum tunnelling is associated with non-classical probabilistic behaviour. We use the Wigner function quasi-probability description of quantum states. We give a definition of tunnelling that allows us to say whether in a given scenario there is tunnelling or not. We prove that this can only happen if either the Wigner function is negative and/or a certain measurement operator which we call the tunnelling rate operator has a negative Wigner function.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1607.01764,
  title  = {Tunnelling necessitates negative Wigner function},
  author = {Yin Long Lin and Oscar C. O. Dahlsten},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1607.01764},
  year   = {2021}
}

Comments

18 pages, 5 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-22T14:47:29.509Z