Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Quantum tunneling at low temperatures: Results for weak damping

  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Physik B Condensed Matter

Abstract

We investigate the rate at which a particle decays out of a metastable potential well by quantum tunneling. We calculate the leading corrections to the exponent and the prefactor of the rate, due to coupling to the heat bath and finite temperatures. Since the results are essentially equivalent to those employing the transition state assumption, namely maintaining thermal equilibrium, we argue for the lower on the damping strength above which these results should be valid. These results are in good accord with recently reported experiments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kramers, H.A.: Physica (Utrecht)7, 284 (1940)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hänggi, P.: J. Stat. Phys.42, 105 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bailin, D., Love, A.: J. Phys. A13, L271 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Caldeira, A.O., Leggett, A.J.: Ann. Phys. (NY)149, 374 (1983);153, 445, E (1984); Phys. Rev. Lett.46, 211 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Langer, J.S.: Ann. Phys.41, 108 (1967); Zittartz, J., Langer, J.S.: Phys. Rev.148, 741 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Coleman, S.: Phys. Rev. D15, 2929 (1977) Callan, C.G., Coleman, S.: Phys. Rev. D16, 1762 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Affleck, I.K.: Phys. Rev. Lett.46, 388 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Grabert, H., Weiss, U., Hänggi, P.: Phys. Rev. Lett.52, 2193 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ullersma, P.: Physica (Utrecht)32, 27; 56; 74; 90 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Sethna, J.P.: Phys. Rev. B25, 5050 (1982); Phys. Rev. B24, 698 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Zwerger, W.: Z. Phys. B — Condensed Matter51, 301 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Grabert, H., Weiss, U.: Z. Phys. B — Condensed Matter56, 171 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Chang, L.D., Chakravarty, S.: Phys. Rev. B29, 130 (1983);30, 1566(E) (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Grabert, H., Olschowski, P., Weiss, U.: Phys. Rev. B32, 3348 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Devoret, M., Martinis, J., Clarke, J.: Phys. Rev. Lett.55, 1543 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Handbook of Mathematical Functions. Abramowitz, M., Stegun, A. (eds.). New York: Dover Publishers 1972

    Google Scholar 

  17. Magnus, W., Oberhettinger, F.: Formeln und Sätze für die speziellen Funktionen der mathematischen Physik. In: Grundlagen der Mathematischen Wissenschaften. Bd. 52, p. 150. Berlin, Göttingen, Heidelberg: Springer 1948

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Polytechnic Institute of New York, 333 Jay Street, 11201, Brooklyn, New York, USA

    E. Freidkin & P. S. Riseborough

  2. Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Physik, Universität Augsburg, Memmingerstrasse 6, D-8900, Augsburg, Federal Republic of Germany

    P. Hänggi

Authors
  1. E. Freidkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. S. Riseborough
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Hänggi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Freidkin, E., Riseborough, P.S. & Hänggi, P. Quantum tunneling at low temperatures: Results for weak damping. Z. Physik B - Condensed Matter 64, 237–246 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01303709

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01303709

Keywords

Search

Navigation