Quantum tunnelling facts for kids
Quantum tunnelling is a part of the theoretical branch of physics known as quantum mechanics. It states that electrons can behave like both particles and waves, and can cancel the effects of an energy barrier if the energy barrier is thin enough, due to quantum mechanics being dependent on probability. In other words, particles can travel through walls, doors, etc. if the door or wall is thin enough. The particle—usually a subatomic or quark particle such as an electron or photon—can become a wave to focus a great deal of energy on the barrier, ultimately negating it. There is also a non-zero chance that it could be found inside the barrier. However, this only noticeably works for subatomic particles, as the chance for macroscopic objects to do this is very, very low, small enough to not be thought about much.
Images for kids
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A simulation of a wave packet incident on a potential barrier. In relative units, the barrier energy is 20, greater than the mean wave packet energy of 14. A portion of the wave packet passes through the barrier.
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Quantum tunneling oscillations of probability in an integrable double well of potential, seen in phase space.
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Chaos-assisted tunneling oscillations between two regular tori embedded in a chaotic sea, seen in phase space
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A working mechanism of a resonant tunneling diode device, based on the phenomenon of quantum tunneling through the potential barriers.
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See also
In Spanish: Efecto túnel para niños
