Quantum Tunneling Rate in Oscillating Fields

Abstract

The quantum tunneling rate of a macroscopic particle in one-dimensional potentials subject to oscillating external fields is considered using the complex time path integral method and the time-dependent Schrodinger equation. A simple calculation scheme for obtaining the tunneling rate within quasi-classical accuracy is described and applied to two systems. The one is the tunneling motion through an inverted parabola potential and the other is the escaping motion from a cubic potential well. Both systems are subject to small oscillating fields. It is found that both of the rates are exponentially enhanced due to the imaginary time motion of the tunneling particle under oscillating potential barriers, and that time scale is identical to the Buttiker-Landauer traversal time.