We make a brief review of the Kramers escape rate theory for the probabilistic motion of a particle in a potential well U(x), and under the influence of classical fluctuation forces. The Kramers theory is extended in order to take into account the action of the thermal and zero-point random electromagnetic fields on a charged particle. The result is physically relevant because we get a non-null escape rate over the potential barrier at low temperatures (T → 0). It is found that, even if the mean energy is much smaller than the barrier height, the classical particle can escape from the potential well due to the action of the zero-point fluctuating fields. These stochastic effects can be used to give a classical interpretation to some quantum tunneling phenomena. Relevant experimental data are used to illustrate the theoretical results.
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Faria, A.J., França, H.M. & Sponchiado, R.C. Tunneling as a Classical Escape Rate Induced by the Vacuum Zero-point Radiation. Found Phys 36, 307–320 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-005-9017-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-005-9017-9