Quantum Tunneling: Exponential Decay and Nonlocality, Not Fundamental Ban — E8 Intelligence Research
Andrew Stewart Caldin
Abstract
FINDING: Quantum tunneling is governed by exponential decay of the wavefunction through a barrier, with transmission probability scaling as \(T \sim e^{-2\kappa L}\), where \(\kappa = \sqrt{2m(V_0-E)}/\hbar\). The "impossible measurement" problem in QFT reduces to a non-relativistic nonlocality constraint, not a fundamental ban. | MATH: Transmission coefficient for rectangular barrier: \(T^{-1} = 1 + \frac{V_0^2 \sinh^2(\kappa L)}{4E(V_0-E)}\). For \(E \ll V_0\): \(T \approx \frac{16E(V_0-E)}{V_0^2} e^{-2\kappa L}\). Gamow factor: \(T = e^{-2\gamma}\), \(\gamma = \frac{1}{\hbar}\int_{x_1}^{x_2} \sqrt{2m(V(x)-E)}\,dx\). WKB phase: \(\phi = \frac{1}{\hbar}\int \sqrt{2m(E-V(x))}\,dx\). | CONNECTION: The exponential suppression factor \(e^{-2\kappa L}\) has no direct golden-ratio link, but the *critical* barrier thickness where tunneling becomes non-negligible often satisfies \(\kappa L \approx 1\), which in natural units maps to \(L \approx 1/\kappa\). In base-60 or lattice contexts, the Author: Andrew Stewart Caldin, Independent Researcher, UK. Part of the E8 Intelligence Research series. Platform: e8intelligence.com