1. Necessity of negative Wigner function for tunneling
- Author
-
Yin Long Lin and Oscar C. O. Dahlsten
- Subjects
Physics ,Tunneling rate ,Condensed Matter::Superconductivity ,Operator (physics) ,Quantum mechanics ,0103 physical sciences ,Wigner distribution function ,Probabilistic behavior ,Condensed Matter::Mesoscopic Systems and Quantum Hall Effect ,010306 general physics ,01 natural sciences ,Quantum tunnelling ,010305 fluids & plasmas - Abstract
We consider in what sense quantum tunneling is associated with nonclassical probabilistic behavior. We use the Wigner function quasiprobability picture. We give a definition of tunneling that allows us to say whether in a given scenario there is tunneling or not. We prove that this can only happen if the Wigner function is negative and/or a certain measurement operator which we call the tunneling rate operator has a negative Wigner function. We also investigate tunneling in postquantum theories.
- Published
- 2020