Virtual photons in macroscopic tunneling

TL;DR

This paper investigates the nature of tunnelling processes, demonstrating that they involve virtual waves with superluminal propagation that do not violate causality, thus clarifying longstanding misconceptions.

Contribution

It provides evidence that tunnelling waves are virtual, superluminal propagations that preserve causality, challenging previous assumptions about tunnelling and superluminal signals.

Findings

Tunnelling waves are virtual in nature.

Propagation speeds in tunnelling can be superluminal.

Causality remains intact despite superluminal tunnelling.

Abstract

Tunnelling processes are thought to proceed via virtual waves due to observed superluminal (faster than light) signal speeds. Some assume such speeds must violate causality. These assumptions contradict, for instance, superluminally tunnelled music and optical tunnelling couplers applied in fiber communication. Recently tunnelling barriers were conjectured to be cavities, wherein the tunnelled output signal is not causally related with the input. The tests described here resolve that tunnelling waves are virtual, propagations are superluminal, and causality is preserved.