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 Conference Series

Quantum reflection in the linearly downward potential

N Chamnan, Boonlit Krunavakarn

Published Sep 1, 2017• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

In this work, the motion of a particle in one dimension under the influence of the linearly downward potential well is studied within the context of the non-relativistic quantum mechanics. The attention is paid on the paradoxical phenomenon of the reflection of a particle that is in contrast between classical and quantum physics. Classically, the reflection effect occurs only at a potential barrier. To demonstrate such counter-intuitive phenomenon, the Schrödinger equation is solved to obtain the reflection coefficient in the scattering state by considering an incident particle that is represented by a monochromatic plane wave having an energy E > 0, propagates freely from left to right, pass through the potential well. The continuity conditions at boundaries give the desired result that is expressed in terms of the Airy functions which depends on the incident energy E, the strength jV 0 j and the range L of the well. The value of the reflection coefficient R lies in the interval 0 < R < 1, and its behavior is the decreasing function with respect to the range L.

DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/901/1/012113

Related papers

Paradoxical Reflection in Quantum Mechanics

Pedro L. Garrido, Sheldon Goldstein, Jani Lukkarinen +1 more

This article concerns a phenomenon of elementary quantum mechanics that is quite counter-intuitive, very non-classical, and apparently not widely known: a quantum particle can get reflected at a downward potential step. In contrast, classical particles get reflected only at upward steps. The conditions for this effect are that the wave length is much greater than the width of the potential step and the kinetic energy of the particle is much smaller than the depth of the potential step. This phenomenon is suggested by non-normalizable solutions to the time-independent Schrödinger equation, and we present evidence, numerical and mathematical, that it is also indeed predicted by the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. Furthermore, this paradoxical reflection effect suggests, and we confirm mathematically, that a quantum particle can be trapped for a long time (though not forever) in a region surrounded by downward potential steps, that is, on a plateau. PACS: 03.65.-w, 03.65.Nk, 01.30.Rr. Key words: Schrödinger equation; potential step; confining potential; reflection and transmission coefficients. 1

•Jan 1, 2008•17 citations

Paradoxical reflection in quantum mechanics

Pedro L. Garrido, Sheldon Goldstein, Jani Lukkarinen +1 more

We discuss a phenomenon of elementary quantum mechanics that is counterintuitive, non-classical, and apparently not widely known: the reflection of a particle at a downward potential step. In contrast, classically, particles are reflected only at upward steps. The conditions for this effect are that the wavelength is much greater than the width of the potential step and the kinetic energy of the particle is much smaller than the depth of the potential step. The phenomenon is suggested by non-normalizable solutions to the time-independent Schrödinger equation. We present numerical and mathematical evidence that it is also predicted by the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The paradoxical reflection effect suggests and we confirm mathematically that a particle can be trapped for a long time (though not indefinitely) in a region surrounded by downward potential steps, that is, on a plateau.

arXiv:0808.0610•American Journal of Physics•Nov 29, 2011•20 citations

Quantum Mechanical Example of Anti-Tunneling

T.B. Mitchell

The probability of a particle being reflected by a semi-infinite energy barrier was solved using Schrödinger's equations that describe the quantum mechanical behavior of the particle. The continuity of the functions at the origin allowed the wave functions and their respective derivatives to be equated. Solution of the resulting system yielded values A1 and B1 which were used to calculate the reflection coefficient, (B1/A1)2. The conclusions obtained from these results stated that the particle would be reflected by the barrier when E

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling One + Two•May 1, 2013•0 citations

Transmission coefficient in double barrier quantum tunnelling effect

Zhongzheng Duan, Wenxi Luo, Xiaohan Xu

At the turn of the twentieth century, the establishment of quantum theory propelled rapid advancements, particularly in the understanding of quantum tunnelling—a fundamental phenomenon in quantum mechanics crucial for various physical processes. The quantum phenomenon of particle passes through potential barriers is of great importance. In classical physics, when the energy of a particle is less than the height of a double barrier structure, it is impossible for it to pass through. However, quantum mechanics allows a particle to penetrate the barrier and emerge on the other side. This paper explores the quantum tunnelling effect, focusing on the single potential barrier model in one dimension and subsequently extending to the double potential barrier model. The Schrödinger equation provides the foundational framework for elucidating the motion of microscopic particles, emphasizing wave-particle duality inherent in quantum mechanics. The analysis of the single potential barrier model involves solving the Schrödinger equation in different regions, determining wave functions and coefficients through boundary conditions. The transmission coefficient is derived, representing the probability of a particle passing through a barrier. In the case of a “thick” barrier, an approximate form for transmission coefficient is provided, demonstrating the exponential decrease in transmission probability with increasing barrier thickness.

Theoretical and Natural Science•Dec 19, 2023•0 citations

Paradoxical Quantum Scattering off a Time Dependent Potential?

Ori Reinhardt, Moshe Schwartz

We consider the quantum scattering off a time dependent barrier in one dimension. Our initial state is a right going eigenstate of the Hamiltonian at time t=0. It consists of a plane wave incoming from the left, a reflected plane wave on the left of the barrier and a transmitted wave on its right. We find that at later times, the evolving wave function has a finite overlap with left going eigenstates of the Hamiltonian at time t=0. For simplicity we present an exact result for a time dependent delta function potential. Then we show that our result is not an artifact of that specific choice of the potential. This surprising result does not agree with our interpretation of the eigenstates of the Hamiltonian at time t=0. A numerical study of evolving wave packets, does not find any corresponding real effect. Namely, we do not see on the right hand side of the barrier any evidence for a left going packet. Our conclusion is thus that the intriguing result mentioned above is intriguing only due to the semantics of the interpretation.

arXiv:1311.2351•Nov 11, 2013•0 citations

Quantum and classical limits in a potential step

CLAUDIO O. DIB, Oscar F. Orellana

Abstract We have often found among many of our students and colleagues the common idea that the mathematical expression for a physical quantity that is essentially of quantum nature must contain a dependence on ℏ. Conversely, a phenomenon described by classical physics should contain no explicit reference to ℏ. However, the problem of a particle encountering a discontinuous potential step, which is one of the simplest examples in quantum mechanics, contradicts this common thought: even when the particle carries enough kinetic energy to go across the step, the resulting expression for the reflection probability is non-zero—a purely quantum phenomenon—and yet it contains no reference to ℏ. We show that the absence of ℏ in this purely quantum expression is due to the idealised limit in which the potential rises sharply at a single position, thus losing any reference to a length dimension in the problem. To address the correct classical limit of the phenomenon we first regularise the discontinuity in the potential by taking a continuous linearly rising function over a distance a . We show that the correct classical limit, which is when no reflection occurs, is obtained for large values of a , not for vanishing a . The latter actually corresponds to a purely quantum case, albeit in a limiting case of a discontinuously abrupt change in the potential at a single point in space.

European Journal of Physics•Apr 20, 2017•2 citations
In this work, the motion of a particle in one dimension under the influence of the linearly downward potential well is studied within the context of the non-relativistic quantum mechanics. The attention is paid on the paradoxical phenomenon of the reflection of a particle that is in contrast between classical and quantum physics. Classically, the reflection effect occurs only at a potential barrier. To demonstrate such counter-intuitive phenomenon, the Schrödinger equation is solved to obtain the reflection coefficient in the scattering state by considering an incident particle that is represented by a monochromatic plane wave having an energy E > 0, propagates freely from left to right, pass through the potential well. The continuity conditions at boundaries give the desired result that is expressed in terms of the Airy functions which depends on the incident energy E, the strength jV 0 j and the range L of the well. The value of the reflection coefficient R lies in the interval 0 < R < 1, and its behavior is the decreasing function with respect to the range L.
This article concerns a phenomenon of elementary quantum mechanics that is quite counter-intuitive, very non-classical, and apparently not widely known: a quantum particle can get reflected at a downward potential step. In contrast, classical particles get reflected only at upward steps. The conditions for this effect are that the wave length is much greater than the width of the potential step and the kinetic energy of the particle is much smaller than the depth of the potential step. This phenomenon is suggested by non-normalizable solutions to the time-independent Schrödinger equation, and we present evidence, numerical and mathematical, that it is also indeed predicted by the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. Furthermore, this paradoxical reflection effect suggests, and we confirm mathematically, that a quantum particle can be trapped for a long time (though not forever) in a region surrounded by downward potential steps, that is, on a plateau. PACS: 03.65.-w, 03.65.Nk, 01.30.Rr. Key words: Schrödinger equation; potential step; confining potential; reflection and transmission coefficients. 1
We discuss a phenomenon of elementary quantum mechanics that is counterintuitive, non-classical, and apparently not widely known: the reflection of a particle at a downward potential step. In contrast, classically, particles are reflected only at upward steps. The conditions for this effect are that the wavelength is much greater than the width of the potential step and the kinetic energy of the particle is much smaller than the depth of the potential step. The phenomenon is suggested by non-normalizable solutions to the time-independent Schrödinger equation. We present numerical and mathematical evidence that it is also predicted by the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The paradoxical reflection effect suggests and we confirm mathematically that a particle can be trapped for a long time (though not indefinitely) in a region surrounded by downward potential steps, that is, on a plateau.
The probability of a particle being reflected by a semi-infinite energy barrier was solved using Schrödinger's equations that describe the quantum mechanical behavior of the particle. The continuity of the functions at the origin allowed the wave functions and their respective derivatives to be equated. Solution of the resulting system yielded values A1 and B1 which were used to calculate the reflection coefficient, (B1/A1)2. The conclusions obtained from these results stated that the particle would be reflected by the barrier when E
At the turn of the twentieth century, the establishment of quantum theory propelled rapid advancements, particularly in the understanding of quantum tunnelling—a fundamental phenomenon in quantum mechanics crucial for various physical processes. The quantum phenomenon of particle passes through potential barriers is of great importance. In classical physics, when the energy of a particle is less than the height of a double barrier structure, it is impossible for it to pass through. However, quantum mechanics allows a particle to penetrate the barrier and emerge on the other side. This paper explores the quantum tunnelling effect, focusing on the single potential barrier model in one dimension and subsequently extending to the double potential barrier model. The Schrödinger equation provides the foundational framework for elucidating the motion of microscopic particles, emphasizing wave-particle duality inherent in quantum mechanics. The analysis of the single potential barrier model involves solving the Schrödinger equation in different regions, determining wave functions and coefficients through boundary conditions. The transmission coefficient is derived, representing the probability of a particle passing through a barrier. In the case of a “thick” barrier, an approximate form for transmission coefficient is provided, demonstrating the exponential decrease in transmission probability with increasing barrier thickness.
We consider the quantum scattering off a time dependent barrier in one dimension. Our initial state is a right going eigenstate of the Hamiltonian at time t=0. It consists of a plane wave incoming from the left, a reflected plane wave on the left of the barrier and a transmitted wave on its right. We find that at later times, the evolving wave function has a finite overlap with left going eigenstates of the Hamiltonian at time t=0. For simplicity we present an exact result for a time dependent delta function potential. Then we show that our result is not an artifact of that specific choice of the potential. This surprising result does not agree with our interpretation of the eigenstates of the Hamiltonian at time t=0. A numerical study of evolving wave packets, does not find any corresponding real effect. Namely, we do not see on the right hand side of the barrier any evidence for a left going packet. Our conclusion is thus that the intriguing result mentioned above is intriguing only due to the semantics of the interpretation.
Abstract We have often found among many of our students and colleagues the common idea that the mathematical expression for a physical quantity that is essentially of quantum nature must contain a dependence on ℏ. Conversely, a phenomenon described by classical physics should contain no explicit reference to ℏ. However, the problem of a particle encountering a discontinuous potential step, which is one of the simplest examples in quantum mechanics, contradicts this common thought: even when the particle carries enough kinetic energy to go across the step, the resulting expression for the reflection probability is non-zero—a purely quantum phenomenon—and yet it contains no reference to ℏ. We show that the absence of ℏ in this purely quantum expression is due to the idealised limit in which the potential rises sharply at a single position, thus losing any reference to a length dimension in the problem. To address the correct classical limit of the phenomenon we first regularise the discontinuity in the potential by taking a continuous linearly rising function over a distance a . We show that the correct classical limit, which is when no reflection occurs, is obtained for large values of a , not for vanishing a . The latter actually corresponds to a purely quantum case, albeit in a limiting case of a discontinuously abrupt change in the potential at a single point in space.