Hartman-Fletcher effect for array of complex barriers

TL;DR

This paper investigates the Hartman-Fletcher effect in quantum tunneling through complex barriers, analyzing how various factors influence tunneling time saturation using numerical and analytical methods.

Contribution

It extends the understanding of the Hartman-Fletcher effect to complex and realistic barriers, including effects of inelastic channels and randomness.

Findings

Tunneling time saturates with increasing number of barriers.

Coupling between elastic and inelastic channels affects tunneling time.

Barrier width and separation influence the Hartman-Fletcher effect.

Abstract

We calculate the time taken by a wave packet to tunnel through a series of complex barrier potentials using stationary phase method to show its saturation (Hartman-Fletcher effect) with number of barriers in various situations. We numerically study the effect of the coupling between the elastic and inelastic channels, width of the individual barrier, separation between the consecutive barriers on the saturation of tunneling time. Nature of HF effect has further been investigated for more realistic barriers with random inelasticity and also for emissive inelastic channels.