INSTANTON SOLUTION OF A NONLINEAR POTENTIAL IN FINITE SIZE

Abstract

The Euclidean path integral method is applied to a quantum tunneling model which accounts for finite size (L) effects. The general solution of the Euler Lagrange equation for the double well potential is found in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions. The antiperiodic instanton interpolates between the potential minima at any finite L inside the quantum regime, and generalizes the well-known (anti)kink solution of the infinite size case. The derivation of the functional determinant, stemming from the quantum fluctuation contribution, is given in detail. The explicit formula for the finite size semiclassical path integral is presented.