Abstract
The effect of a low-frequency dissipative medium on the tunneling rate of a particle trapped in a metastable potential is investigated with the aid of a frozen-bath sudden approximation. The sudden theory is formulated for arbitrary time-dependent friction and for all temperatures at which the escape process is dominated by tunneling. The validity criterion of the theory is only that the bath frequency spectrum be substantially lower than the system frequency. It is applicable both in the weak- and strong-damping limits. The sudden theory is applied to tunneling in a cubic potential and a piecewise harmonic potential where the barrier frequency differs from the well frequency. In contrast to the ImF method, the sudden theory, when valid, can provide estimates of tunneling rates from well-defined excited resonance states and is not limited to estimates of only thermal rates. We find that, if the barrier is thin relative to the well, dissipation can serve to enhance tunneling rates from excited states.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
