Numerical studies of tunneling in a nonharmonic time-dependent potential

TL;DR

This paper numerically investigates tunneling in a nonharmonic, time-dependent potential, confirming Azbel's proposed regimes and providing a computational perspective on the phenomenon.

Contribution

It offers a numerical approach to study tunneling in complex potentials, validating Azbel's theoretical regimes with qualitative agreement.

Findings

Qualitative agreement with Azbel's tunneling regimes

Confirmation of direct tunneling, activation assisted tunneling, and resonant activation

Numerical method effectively captures complex tunneling behaviors

Abstract

Azbel' has recently carried out a WKB-analysis of the effects of a nonharmonic time-dependent perturbation embedded in an opaque potential barrier. He suggests the existence of three different transmission regimes: direct tunneling, activation assisted tunneling, and elevator resonant activation. We address the same problem with a numerical technique, and find qualitative agreement with Azbel's picture.