The Influence of Dissipation on Quantum Tunneling
Abstract
In this thesis we attempt to resolve the question "What is the influence of dissipation on quantum tunneling?". Dissipation is taken into account by using a model of a heat bath, consisting of a distribution of harmonic oscillators linearly coupled to the particle. Different dissipation mechanisms and potentials are incorporated into the calculation of the decay rate. Semiclassical path integral methods and the WKB approximation are used to calculated the expression for the decay rate. It turns out to be of the form (GAMMA) = Aexp(-(S(,B)/(H/2PI))), where S(,B) is the Euclidean action, corresponding to the so called bounce trajectory determined from the solution of a nonlinear integrodifferential equation.
- Publication:
-
Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 1987
- Bibcode:
- 1987PhDT........37F
- Keywords:
-
- PHONON;
- Physics: Condensed Matter