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Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General

Tunnelling coefficients across an arbitrary potential barrier

Aihua Zhang, Zhuangqi Cao, Qishun Shen, Xiaoming Dou, Yingli Chen

Published Jul 19, 2000• 11 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A simple, yet accurate, method of solving the Schrödinger equation across an arbitrary potential barrier is described, based on the analytic transfer-matrix technique. This paper gives the final analytical expression for the transmission probability. Numerical calculations for four typical potential barrier structures are compared with the traditional WKB, modified WKB and the modified Airy function (MAF) methods. Excellent agreement with an exact example is demonstrated. Most importantly, in cases where other potential-barrier methods fail, our method performs well.

DOI
10.1088/0305-4470/33/30/313

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A simple, yet accurate, method of solving the Schrödinger equation across an arbitrary potential barrier is described, based on the analytic transfer-matrix technique. This paper gives the final analytical expression for the transmission probability. Numerical calculations for four typical potential barrier structures are compared with the traditional WKB, modified WKB and the modified Airy function (MAF) methods. Excellent agreement with an exact example is demonstrated. Most importantly, in cases where other potential-barrier methods fail, our method performs well.
A simple yet exact method of solving the Schrodinger equation across an arbitrary one-dimensional piecewise-linear potential is described. It is based on the analytical solution of the Schrodinger equation across a linear potential, where the solution can be expressed as a linear combination of the Airy functions. Proper boundary conditions are imposed at the interface between adjacent linear intervals of the potential, and a transfer-matrix procedure is utilized in the derivation. The quantum mechanical transmission coefficient across a potential barrier and eigenenergies of a potential well can also be easily calculated using this method.
A simle numerical method of calculating transmission coefficients across arbitrary potentials is presented by using the combination of a transfer matrix procedure and the solution of the wave functions in arbitrary potentials.This method is applied to a parabolic potential and a double barrier potential in an electric field.The transmission coefficients calculated are in agreement with those obtained using a multistep potential approximation.The wave functions at the resonant states are also given for the two examples.
Based on the similarity between time-independent Schrodinger equation and Helmholtz equation, the analytical transfer matrix method was utilized to analyze macroscopic quantum tunneling effect, and the potential filed and eigenvalue were corresponded to the refractive index and propagation constant, respectively.Without solving the Schrodinger equation and any approximation,the exact analytic expressions of reflection coefficient and reflection probability of the particle were obtained.Initial results show the equations obtained here are exact and have clear physical meanings.It is expected to be applied in the researches of many basic quantum phenomena,such as quantum tunneling effect,quantum reflection, quantum particles and tunneling resonance.
A new numerical algorithm for tunneling is presented. This algorithm can be used to analyse an onedimensional\npotential barrier with an arbitrary profile. It is able to calculate not only the transmission coefficient\naccurately, but also the phases of the transmitted and reflected waves. Using the Schrodinger equation and plane waves,\nwe introduce a tunneling matrix to relate the transmitted and incident wave functions. Thus the transmission coefficient\nand phase can be calculated from the tunneling matrix.To test the accuracy of this algorithm,we calculate the transmission\ncoefficients and phases for a double -barrier (resonant tunneling) and a triangular barrier (field emission), and\nmake comparisous with corresponding analytical values. It shows that this algorithm is fast, accurate and efficient.