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Time-dependent barrier; fluctuation frequency; tunneling rate

We present a numerical investigation of quantum mechanical tunneling process in a double well potential with fluctuating barrier. The tunneling probability and rate are calculated for two cases in which (i) the height of the barrier is undergoing harmonic oscillation with frequency θ and (ii) the height of the barrier is undergoing random fluctuation with frequency θ. It is observed that in both cases, the quantum mechanical tunneling probability and rate exhibit a maximum as a function of the fluctuation frequency. The optimal frequency i.e. the frequency at which rate exhibits a maximum shows a strong isotopic mass effect.

Pranab Sarkar¹

1. Department of Chemistry, Visvabharati University, Santiniketan - 731 235, India

Published

March 2000

Manuscript received

13 May 1999

Manuscript revised

27 December 1999