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APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Meeting Abstracts

^'Superluminal^' Tunnelling as a Quantum Measurement Effect^

D. Sokolovski, ALFRED Z. MSEZANE, Vasily R. Shaginyan

Published May 1, 2004• 0 citations
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Abstract

We exploit the analogy between tunnelling across a potential barrier and Aharonov's weak measurements to resolve the long standing paradox between the impossibility to exceed the speed of light and the seemingly 'superluminal' behaviur of the tunnelling particle in the barrier. We demonstrate that 'superluminality' occurs when the value of the duration $\\tau$ spent in the barrier is uncertain, whereas when $\\tau$ is known accurately, no 'superluminal' behaviur is observed. In all cases only subluminal durations contribute to the transmission across the barrier.

Related papers

"Superluminal" tunnelling, quantum measurements and the speed of information transfer

D. Sokolovski, ALFRED Z. MSEZANE, Vasily R. Shaginyan

We exploit the analogy between tunnelling across a potential barrier and Aharonov's weak measurements to resolve the long standing paradox between the impossibility to exceed the speed of light and the seemingly 'superluminal' behaviur of the tunnelling particle in the barrier. We demonstrate that 'superluminality' occurs when the value of the duration $τ$ spent in the barrier is uncertain, whereas when $τ$ is known accurately, no 'superluminal' behaviur is observed. In all cases only subluminal durations contribute to the transmission, which precludes faster-than-light information transfer, as shown by a recent experiment.

arXiv:quant-ph/0401159•Jan 26, 2004•0 citations

“Superluminal” tunneling as a weak measurement effect

D. Sokolovski, ALFRED Z. MSEZANE, Vasily R. Shaginyan

We exploit the analogy between the transfer of a pulse across a scattering medium and Aharonov's weak measurements to resolve the long standing paradox between the impossibility to exceed the speed of light and the seemingly ``superluminal'' behavior of a tunneling particle in the barrier or a photon in a ``fast-light'' medium. We demonstrate that superluminality occurs when the value of the duration $\ensuremath{\tau}$ spent in the barrier is uncertain, whereas when $\ensuremath{\tau}$ is known accurately, no superluminal behavior is observed. In all cases only subluminal durations contribute to the transmission which precludes faster-than-light information transfer, as observed in a recent experiment.

Physical Review A•Jun 21, 2005•33 citations

Why relativity allows quantum tunnelling to 'take no time'?

D. Sokolovski

In quantum tunnelling, what appears an infinitely fast barrier traversal can be explained in terms of an Aharonov-like weak measurement of the tunnelling time, in which the role of the pointer is played by the particle's own coordinate. A relativistic wavepacket is shown to be reshaped through a series of subluminal shifts which together produce an anomalous 'superluminal' result.

arXiv:quant-ph/0306153•Jun 23, 2003•0 citations

Why does relativity allow quantum tunnelling to ‘take no time’?

D. Sokolovski

In quantum tunnelling, what appears to be an infinitely fast barrier traversal can be explained in terms of an Aharonov–like weak measurement of the tunnelling time, in which the role of the pointer is played by the particle's own coordinate. A relativistic wave packet is shown to be reshaped through a series of subluminal shifts which together produce an anomalous ‘superluminal’ result.

Proceedings of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences•Feb 8, 2004•13 citations

On Times and Speeds of Time-Dependent Quantum and Electromagnetic Tunneling

М. В. Давидович

Abstract This is a review of studies of quantum tunneling, which is described by the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation, and electromagnetic tunneling, where “superluminal” velocities and times of tunneling are considered. Integral and integrodifferential equations have been presented to describe tunneling. According to these equations, superluminal motion is impossible. The paradoxical Hartman effect has been discussed and explained. It has been shown that the velocity of passage of a particle in a beam through a barrier in the case of steady-state and time-dependent quantum tunneling is equal to the velocity of its incidence on the barrier and quasiphotons inside any layer of matter carry the energy always at a subluminal velocity. However, the tunneling time of a single particle or a photon is meaningless.

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics•Jan 1, 2020•12 citations

Quantum tunneling time

P. C. W. Davies

A simple model of a quantum clock is applied to the old and controversial problem of how long a particle takes to tunnel through a quantum barrier. The model has the advantage of yielding sensible results for energy eigenstates and does not require the use of time-dependent wave packets. Although the treatment does not forbid superluminal tunneling velocities, there is no implication of faster-than-light signaling because only the transit duration is measurable, not the absolute time of transit. A comparison is given with the weak-measurement post-selection calculations of Steinberg.

arXiv:quant-ph/0403010•American Journal of Physics•Dec 13, 2004•86 citations
We exploit the analogy between tunnelling across a potential barrier and Aharonov's weak measurements to resolve the long standing paradox between the impossibility to exceed the speed of light and the seemingly 'superluminal' behaviur of the tunnelling particle in the barrier. We demonstrate that 'superluminality' occurs when the value of the duration tau\\tautau spent in the barrier is uncertain, whereas when tau\\tautau is known accurately, no 'superluminal' behaviur is observed. In all cases only subluminal durations contribute to the transmission across the barrier.
We exploit the analogy between tunnelling across a potential barrier and Aharonov's weak measurements to resolve the long standing paradox between the impossibility to exceed the speed of light and the seemingly 'superluminal' behaviur of the tunnelling particle in the barrier. We demonstrate that 'superluminality' occurs when the value of the duration τττ spent in the barrier is uncertain, whereas when τττ is known accurately, no 'superluminal' behaviur is observed. In all cases only subluminal durations contribute to the transmission, which precludes faster-than-light information transfer, as shown by a recent experiment.
We exploit the analogy between the transfer of a pulse across a scattering medium and Aharonov's weak measurements to resolve the long standing paradox between the impossibility to exceed the speed of light and the seemingly ``superluminal'' behavior of a tunneling particle in the barrier or a photon in a ``fast-light'' medium. We demonstrate that superluminality occurs when the value of the duration $\ensuremath{\tau}$ spent in the barrier is uncertain, whereas when $\ensuremath{\tau}$ is known accurately, no superluminal behavior is observed. In all cases only subluminal durations contribute to the transmission which precludes faster-than-light information transfer, as observed in a recent experiment.
Abstract This is a review of studies of quantum tunneling, which is described by the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation, and electromagnetic tunneling, where “superluminal” velocities and times of tunneling are considered. Integral and integrodifferential equations have been presented to describe tunneling. According to these equations, superluminal motion is impossible. The paradoxical Hartman effect has been discussed and explained. It has been shown that the velocity of passage of a particle in a beam through a barrier in the case of steady-state and time-dependent quantum tunneling is equal to the velocity of its incidence on the barrier and quasiphotons inside any layer of matter carry the energy always at a subluminal velocity. However, the tunneling time of a single particle or a photon is meaningless.
A simple model of a quantum clock is applied to the old and controversial problem of how long a particle takes to tunnel through a quantum barrier. The model has the advantage of yielding sensible results for energy eigenstates and does not require the use of time-dependent wave packets. Although the treatment does not forbid superluminal tunneling velocities, there is no implication of faster-than-light signaling because only the transit duration is measurable, not the absolute time of transit. A comparison is given with the weak-measurement post-selection calculations of Steinberg.