QUANTUM MECHANICAL TUNNELING

Let us consider the case of a particle (say, an electron) confined to move in a one-dimensional box with
walls of infinite and finite heights as shown below. The potential energy function V is assumed to be zero from
x =0 to x = a. But the potential energy V is
taken as at x =0 and at x = a, as V 0
(potential energy is finite). Classically the
electron should be found within the
boundaries x = 0 to x = a, and the
Potential barrier
electron wavefunction
V= V0
probability of finding the electron beyond
of finite height
x = a is to be zero. But it is observed that
when the potential barrier is finite and of
Thickness of barrier
suitable thickness, there exists a finite V
probability of finding the electron beyond
x = a. The probability decreases
exponentially with increase in barrier
a
0
thickness. This phenomenon is known as
x
electron tunnel through barrier
tunneling. Tunneling is a quantum
mechanical phenomenon. Radioactive decay is an example of tunneling. It is the process of emission of particles and
energy from the unstable nucleus of an atom to form a stable product. This is done via the tunneling of a particle out
of the nucleus (an electron tunneling into the nucleus is electron capture). Another example is the working of
scanning tunneling microscope (STM). In STM, the region from x = 0 to x = a, could be considered as tip and the
region beyond the barrier as sample. The barrier thickness could be considered as the distance d between tip
and sample surface.