Quantum tunneling as a classical anomaly

DOI10.1088/1751-8113/44/37/372001zbMATH Open1225.81047arXiv1011.0121OpenAlexW2022956063WikidataQ58981342 ScholiaQ58981342MaRDI QIDQ3173043FDOQ3173043

Authors: Daniel W. Hook, Carl M. Bender 

Publication date: 10 October 2011

Published in: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Classical mechanics is a singular theory in that real-energy classical particles can never enter classically forbidden regions. However, if one regulates classical mechanics by allowing the energy E of a particle to be complex, the particle exhibits quantum-like behavior: Complex-energy classical particles can travel between classically allowed regions separated by potential barriers. When Im(E) -> 0, the classical tunneling probabilities persist. Hence, one can interpret quantum tunneling as an anomaly. A numerical comparison of complex classical tunneling probabilities with quantum tunneling probabilities leads to the conjecture that as ReE increases, complex classical tunneling probabilities approach the corresponding quantum probabilities. Thus, this work attempts to generalize the Bohr correspondence principle from classically allowed to classically forbidden regions.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1011.0121

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Lagrangian formalism and Hamiltonian formalism in mechanics of particles and systems (70S05) General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Closed and approximate solutions to the Schrödinger, Dirac, Klein-Gordon and other equations of quantum mechanics (81Q05) (2)-body potential quantum scattering theory (81U05)

Cited In (11)

• Complexified synchrony
• Quantum effects in classical systems having complex energy
• On close relationship between classical time-dependent harmonic oscillator and non-relativistic quantum mechanics in one dimension
• Tunneling as a classical escape rate induced by the vacuum zero-point radiation
• Complex Classical Motion in Potentials with Poles and Turning Points
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Calculating probabilities without quadrature
• Probability density in the complex plane
• Dynamical tunneling-like effects in 1D classical systems
• Anatomy of Quantum Tunneling
• Classically forbidden behavior of the quantum harmonic oscillator for large quantum numbers

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