Quantum Tunneling in Time-Dependent Potential Barrier: a General Formulation and Some Exactly Solvable Models

Abstract

Quantum tunneling in one spatial dimension in the presence of time-dependent potentials is investigated theoretically. First, a general multichannel formulation of the problem is given for harmonic time-dependence. The case of an oscillatory delta-function potential of constant strength is discussed at length and specific numerical calculations are presented for the reflection and transmission coefficients. Then other exactly solvable time-dependent potentials are obtained by carrying out successive unitary transformations. As an example of this class, a delta-function potential with time-dependent strength and boundary conditions is studied. Finally tunneling time-delay for time-dependent potentials is formulated in the multichannel situation, and also the concept of first passage time for the decay of a wave packet confined to one well of a double well potential is generalized for the case of time-dependent barrier and boundary conditions.