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On the hartman effect and velocity of propagating the electromagnetic wave in the tunneling process

Nikolay Leonidovich Chuprikov

Published Jun 1, 2013• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

A new approach to the problem of scattering the plane electromagnetic TE wave on a homogeneous dielectric layer is presented, which does not predict, unlike the standard model, the Hartman effect for the tunneling time in the case of scattering the TE wave in the regime of a frustrated total internal refection (FTIR). The basic idea of this approach is that a correct definition of the tunneling velocity and time is possible if only the dynamics of both its subprocesses — transmission and reflection — is known at all stages of the scattering process investigated. It is shown that the Wigner (group) tunneling time was introduced without taking into account of this requirement, and, as a consequence, both this characteristic itself and the associated with it Hartman effect have no relation to transferring the light energy through the layer. The dwell transmission time, which is directly related to it, does not lead to the Hartman effect.

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Dwell times for transmission and reflection

Nikolay Leonidovich Chuprikov

As was shown in quant-ph/0405028, the state of a tunneling particle can be uniquely presented as a coherent superposition of two states to describe alternative sub-processes, transmission and reflection. In this paper, on the basis of the stationary wave functions for these sub-processes, we give new definitions of the dwell times for transmission and reflection. In the case of rectangular potential barriers the dwell times are obtained explicitly. In contrast with the well-known Büttiker's dwell-time, our dwell time for transmission increases exponentially, for the under-barrier tunneling, with increasing the barrier's width. By our approach the well-known Hartman effect is rather an artifact resulted from an improper interpretation of the wave-packet tunneling and experimental data, but not a real physical effect accompanying the tunneling phenomenon.

arXiv:quant-ph/0502073•Feb 14, 2005•2 citations
A new approach to the problem of scattering the plane electromagnetic TE wave on a homogeneous dielectric layer is presented, which does not predict, unlike the standard model, the Hartman effect for the tunneling time in the case of scattering the TE wave in the regime of a frustrated total internal refection (FTIR). The basic idea of this approach is that a correct definition of the tunneling velocity and time is possible if only the dynamics of both its subprocesses — transmission and reflection — is known at all stages of the scattering process investigated. It is shown that the Wigner (group) tunneling time was introduced without taking into account of this requirement, and, as a consequence, both this characteristic itself and the associated with it Hartman effect have no relation to transferring the light energy through the layer. The dwell transmission time, which is directly related to it, does not lead to the Hartman effect.
We develop a new quantum-mechanical approach to scattering a particle on a one-dimensional (1D) system of two identical rectangular potential barriers, which implies modelling the dynamics of its subprocesses -- transmission and reflection -- at all stages of scattering. On its basis we define, for each subprocess, the dwell time as well as the local (exact) and asymptotic (extrapolated) group times. Our concept of the asymptotic transmission group time confirms the validity of the Wigner phase time in the opaque limit, as well as the existence of the usual and generalized Hartman effects predicted on its basis. On the energy scale, this concept is valid everywhere in the high energy region as well as in the low energy region, excepting resonance points and their neighborhoods. On the contrary, the Buttiker dwell time is valid, as the transmission time, just only at the resonance points. Our concept of the transmission dwell time predicts monotonous growth of the tunneling time when the distance between the opaque barriers increases. By our approach only this time scale yields the true time spent, on average, by transmitted particles in the region occupied by the system. We explain why the asymptotic and local transmission group times cannot play this role and why the concept of {\it transmission group} velocity lies beyond the scope of special relativity. And else, all the transmission times admit only indirect measurements. Hence the unambiguous interpretation of all tunneling-time experiments is impossible when the transmission dynamics at all stages of scattering is unknown.
We develop a new quantum-mechanical approach to scattering a particle on a one-dimensional (1D) system of two identical rectangular potential barriers, which implies modelling the dynamics of its subprocesses -- transmission and reflection -- at all stages of scattering. On its basis we define, for each subprocess, the dwell time as well as the local (exact) and asymptotic (extrapolated) group times. Our concept of the asymptotic transmission group time confirms the validity of the Wigner phase time in the opaque limit, as well as the existence of the usual and generalized Hartman effects predicted on its basis. On the energy scale, this concept is valid everywhere in the high energy region as well as in the low energy region, excepting resonance points and their neighborhoods. On the contrary, the Buttiker dwell time is valid, as the transmission time, just only at the resonance points. Our concept of the transmission dwell time predicts monotonous growth of the tunneling time when the distance between the opaque barriers increases. By our approach only this time scale yields the true time spent, on average, by transmitted particles in the region occupied by the system. We explain why the asymptotic and local transmission group times cannot play this role and why the concept of {\it transmission group} velocity lies beyond the scope of special relativity. And else, all the transmission times admit only indirect measurements. Hence the unambiguous interpretation of all tunneling-time experiments is impossible when the transmission dynamics at all stages of scattering is unknown.
Over 40 years ago, Hartman noted that the tunneling time τ of a particle through a barrier becomes independent of width for thick barriers. Lately, the Hartman effect has been seen as a support for superluminal tunneling time. By interpreting the reflection and transmission amplitudes in terms of multiple reflection series, we show that τ is linear in barrier width for thin barriers and may be associated with actual traversal time; for thick barriers, τ saturates to the Hartman value because of the suppression of all but the first term of the series due to the smallness of the tunneling factor. For large widths, τ cannot be identified with the propagation time but may be associated with a time to penetrate to a characteristic depth into the barrier, which is independent of width. We discuss data from frustrated internal reflection experiments, which support this view.
The group delay in frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) is shown to equal the dwell time plus a self-interference delay. The self-interference delay originates from the energy stored in the overlap between incident and reflected waves above the interface. The group delay in FTIR for finite beams is thus shown to be the lifetime of stored energy in the gap between the prisms and in the partial standing wave above the gap. As in other manifestations of tunneling the saturation of group delay with barrier length (Hartman effect) is explained by the saturation of stored energy in the region defined. No superluminal propagation is implied.
As was shown in quant-ph/0405028, the state of a tunneling particle can be uniquely presented as a coherent superposition of two states to describe alternative sub-processes, transmission and reflection. In this paper, on the basis of the stationary wave functions for these sub-processes, we give new definitions of the dwell times for transmission and reflection. In the case of rectangular potential barriers the dwell times are obtained explicitly. In contrast with the well-known Büttiker's dwell-time, our dwell time for transmission increases exponentially, for the under-barrier tunneling, with increasing the barrier's width. By our approach the well-known Hartman effect is rather an artifact resulted from an improper interpretation of the wave-packet tunneling and experimental data, but not a real physical effect accompanying the tunneling phenomenon.