Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General

On the escape of a particle from a potential well

J A Spiers

Published Jun 1, 1980• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

An expression is obtained for the time-dependent wavefunction of a spinless non-relativistic particle escaping from a spherically symmetrical potential well having an outer barrier through which the particle can penetrate. The initial state of the particle, at time t=0, is taken to be a normalised wavepacket, located in the well, but otherwise arbitrary. The time-dependent Schrodinger equation of the system is solved by means of a Laplace transform and the form of the wavefunction at a distance from the well is used to determine the conditions under which the process would appear to a suitable particle detector as an emission with one or more exponential decay rates.

DOI
10.1088/0305-4470/13/6/027

Related papers

Time dependence and line shape of spontaneous quantum tunneling

B. U. Felderhof

The time dependence of spontaneous quantum tunneling of a particle from a potential well through a barrier in one or three dimensions is studied on the basis of the solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation as an initial-value problem by the method of Laplace transform. The wavefunction in the outer space is expressed in terms of special functions known from the theory of classical diffusion. A concise expression is derived for the probability current into the outer space. At long times the current oscillates about zero before decaying with a t −4 long-time tail. A comparison is made with the solution obtained by an expansion of the initial wavefunction in terms of the complete set of scattering states and bound states.

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Oct 7, 2008•2 citations

Space-time evolution of a decaying quantum state

W. van Dijk, F Kataoka, Yukihisa Nogami

We examine a one-dimensional model of a decaying quantum system, e.g., one that could simulate decay. A particle is initially confined in a region and leaks out, tunnelling through a potential barrier. The same model has been examined before, primarily to study decay properties which are determined by the wavefunction of the particle within the potential barrier. However, the wavefunction of this model (and of any similar models) outside the potential barrier has not been obtained explicitly as a function of position and time. We obtain the wavefunction outside as well as inside the potential barrier by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, and explore various features of the space-time development of the system. In an early study by Winter it was pointed out that the probability current just outside the barrier, after a long time, may fluctuate and can be negative, i.e., inward. We find that under certain circumstances the amplitude of the fluctuations increases significantly as the distance from the barrier increases. We propose a simple approximate wavefunction that works well when the decay is very slow. The Gamow wavefunction, commonly used to describe the -decay process, is not appropriate at large distances. Our wavefunction can be used anywhere and is normalized in the usual manner.

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General•Aug 19, 1999•19 citations

Analytical approach to the wave function of a decaying quantum system

W. van Dijk, Yukihisa Nogami

Recently we outlined an analytical method of solving the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation for a model which simulates a decaying quantum system such as an $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decaying nucleus. A particle in the model is initially confined around the origin and leaks out, tunneling through a potential barrier. The solution can be expressed as a linear combination of the Moshinsky functions, each of which is associated with a pole of the scattering $\mathbf{S}$ matrix of the model. In this paper we give a full account of the method with a few explicit examples. We examine deviations from the exponential decay law at very large times. We comment on a recent controversy regarding the t dependence of the survival and nonescape probabilities when t is very large.

Physical Review C•Jan 16, 2002•40 citations

A simple model of a decaying quantum mechanical state

A Ludviksson

A model featuring a one-dimensional particle in a tilted potential which may be trapped in a delta type potential well is considered. The time dependence of a state where the particle is trapped and where it decays via the quantum mechanical tunnel effect is calculated explicitly. Since the background potential decreases without limit (in one direction), the decay is purely exponential for long times and the decay rate is equal to the imaginary part of the eigenenergy in a Schrodinger equation that is solved for a quasi-stationary state.

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General•Oct 1, 1987•30 citations

One Dimensional Schrodinger Equation With Two Moving Boundaries

Ercan Yilmaz

In this letter, we consider a Schrodinger equation for a well potential with varying width. We solve one dimensional time-dependent Schrodinger equation subject to time-dependent boundary conditions for a spinless particle inside infinite potential well, both wall of which move opposite direction with different velocities v1 and v2, respectively.

arXiv:math-ph/0302006•Feb 4, 2003•2 citations

A Fundamental Form of the Schrodinger Equation: Finite Potential Barrier

Muhammad Adeel Ajaib

We show that the first order form of the Schrodinger equation proposed in [1] can be obtained from the Dirac equation in the non-relativistic limit. We also show that the Pauli Hamiltonian is obtained from this equation by requiring local gauge invariance. In addition, we study the problem of a spin up particle incident on a finite potential barrier and show that the known quantum mechanical results are obtained. Finally, we consider the symmetric potential well and show that the quantum mechanical expression for the quantized energy levels of a particle is obtained with periodic boundary conditions. Based on these conclusions, we propose that the equation introduced in [1] is the non-relativistic limit of the Dirac equation and more appropriately describes spin 1/2 particles in the non-relativistic limit.

•Nov 24, 2015•0 citations
An expression is obtained for the time-dependent wavefunction of a spinless non-relativistic particle escaping from a spherically symmetrical potential well having an outer barrier through which the particle can penetrate. The initial state of the particle, at time t=0, is taken to be a normalised wavepacket, located in the well, but otherwise arbitrary. The time-dependent Schrodinger equation of the system is solved by means of a Laplace transform and the form of the wavefunction at a distance from the well is used to determine the conditions under which the process would appear to a suitable particle detector as an emission with one or more exponential decay rates.
The time dependence of spontaneous quantum tunneling of a particle from a potential well through a barrier in one or three dimensions is studied on the basis of the solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation as an initial-value problem by the method of Laplace transform. The wavefunction in the outer space is expressed in terms of special functions known from the theory of classical diffusion. A concise expression is derived for the probability current into the outer space. At long times the current oscillates about zero before decaying with a t −4 long-time tail. A comparison is made with the solution obtained by an expansion of the initial wavefunction in terms of the complete set of scattering states and bound states.
We examine a one-dimensional model of a decaying quantum system, e.g., one that could simulate decay. A particle is initially confined in a region and leaks out, tunnelling through a potential barrier. The same model has been examined before, primarily to study decay properties which are determined by the wavefunction of the particle within the potential barrier. However, the wavefunction of this model (and of any similar models) outside the potential barrier has not been obtained explicitly as a function of position and time. We obtain the wavefunction outside as well as inside the potential barrier by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, and explore various features of the space-time development of the system. In an early study by Winter it was pointed out that the probability current just outside the barrier, after a long time, may fluctuate and can be negative, i.e., inward. We find that under certain circumstances the amplitude of the fluctuations increases significantly as the distance from the barrier increases. We propose a simple approximate wavefunction that works well when the decay is very slow. The Gamow wavefunction, commonly used to describe the -decay process, is not appropriate at large distances. Our wavefunction can be used anywhere and is normalized in the usual manner.
Recently we outlined an analytical method of solving the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation for a model which simulates a decaying quantum system such as an $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decaying nucleus. A particle in the model is initially confined around the origin and leaks out, tunneling through a potential barrier. The solution can be expressed as a linear combination of the Moshinsky functions, each of which is associated with a pole of the scattering S\mathbf{S}S matrix of the model. In this paper we give a full account of the method with a few explicit examples. We examine deviations from the exponential decay law at very large times. We comment on a recent controversy regarding the t dependence of the survival and nonescape probabilities when t is very large.
A model featuring a one-dimensional particle in a tilted potential which may be trapped in a delta type potential well is considered. The time dependence of a state where the particle is trapped and where it decays via the quantum mechanical tunnel effect is calculated explicitly. Since the background potential decreases without limit (in one direction), the decay is purely exponential for long times and the decay rate is equal to the imaginary part of the eigenenergy in a Schrodinger equation that is solved for a quasi-stationary state.
We show that the first order form of the Schrodinger equation proposed in [1] can be obtained from the Dirac equation in the non-relativistic limit. We also show that the Pauli Hamiltonian is obtained from this equation by requiring local gauge invariance. In addition, we study the problem of a spin up particle incident on a finite potential barrier and show that the known quantum mechanical results are obtained. Finally, we consider the symmetric potential well and show that the quantum mechanical expression for the quantized energy levels of a particle is obtained with periodic boundary conditions. Based on these conclusions, we propose that the equation introduced in [1] is the non-relativistic limit of the Dirac equation and more appropriately describes spin 1/2 particles in the non-relativistic limit.