Engineering Physics - PHY 1701; N.

Punithavelan, Assistant Professor, Physics Division,

VIT-Chennai

Tunneling Effect:

Engineering Physics - PHY 1701; N. Punithavelan, Assistant Professor, Physics Division, VIT-
Chennai
 Engineering Physics - PHY 1701; N. Punithavelan, Assistant Professor, Physics Division,
VIT-Chennai

In Region I (or metal 1), the free electrons’

wave motion along one dimension is only
considered. So the wave equation is:
d2ψ I 2 m
+ Eψ I =0
dx 2 ђ2

E−electron s ' energy

In Region III (or metal 2), the free electrons’

wave motion along one dimension is
considered. So the wave equation is:
d 2 ψ III 2 m
+ 2 E ψ III =0
dx 2 ђ

d2ψ I 2 m
+ Eψ I =0
dx 2 ђ2

ψ I =ψ I +¿+ψ I−¿¿ ¿

ψ I +¿−for wave move∈the+ xdirection .¿

ψ I −¿for wave that gets reflected∧moves ∈− x direction.¿

λ 2+ k 12=0

λ 2=−k 12

λ=± ik 1

ψ I = A e i k x + B e−i k
1 1 x

ψ III =F ei k x +G e−i k
1 1 x

2 mE p 2 π
k 1= √ = =
ђ ђ λ
Engineering Physics - PHY 1701; N. Punithavelan, Assistant Professor, Physics Division, VIT-
Chennai
 Engineering Physics - PHY 1701; N. Punithavelan, Assistant Professor, Physics Division,
VIT-Chennai

e iƟ=cos Ɵ+isin Ɵ

e−iƟ=cos Ɵ−i sin Ɵ

ψ I = A e i k x + B e−i k
1 1 x

2π 2π 2π
−i x −i vt −i vt
ψ=ψ 0 e−ikx =ψ 0 e λ
=ψ 0 e λ
=ψ 0 e λ
=ψ 0 e−i 2 πϑt =ψ 0 e−iωt

ψ I +¿=A e i k 1x
¿

ψ I −¿=B e −i k 1 x
¿

ψ I =ψ I +¿+ψ I−¿¿ ¿

ψ III +¿=F e i k 1x
¿

ψ III =ψ III +¿= F e ik 1 x

¿

The flux of electrons that move ¿ region I ,

S=¿ ¿

S=¿ ¿

transmission probability , T =¿ ¿ ¿

v I+ ¿∧v III +¿ are velocitiesof the electrons∈the ¿ ¿

Metals 1 and 2 and both are equal.

so , transmission probability ,T =¿ ¿ ¿

In Region II (or gap between two metals), the

free electrons’ wave motion along one
dimension is only considered. The free electron
faces potential energy U, and U > E. So the
wave equation is:
Engineering Physics - PHY 1701; N. Punithavelan, Assistant Professor, Physics Division, VIT-
Chennai
 Engineering Physics - PHY 1701; N. Punithavelan, Assistant Professor, Physics Division,
VIT-Chennai

d 2 ψ II 2 m d 2 ψ II 2 m
+ ( E−U )ψ II =¿ − 2 (U −E)ψ II =0
dx2 ђ2 dx 2 ђ

λ 2−k 22=0

λ 2=k 22

λ 2=k 22

λ=± k 2

ψ II =C ek x + D e−k x
2 2

2 m(U−E)
k 2= √
ђ

ψ I =ψ II

dx
={
at x =0 → d ψ I d ψ II
dx

ψ II =ψ III

dx
={
at x =L→ d ψ II d ψ III
dx

L−the gap between two metals

ψ I = A e i k x + B e−i k
1 1 x

ψ II =C ek x + D e−k x
2 2

at x =0 ,ψ I =ψ II

A e i k x + B e−i k x =C e k x + D e−k
1 1 2 2 x

At x=0 , A +B=C+ D

dψI ik x −i k x
=ik 1 A e −i k 1 B e 1 1

dx

d ψ II k x −k x
=k 2 C e −k 2 D e
2 2

dx
Engineering Physics - PHY 1701; N. Punithavelan, Assistant Professor, Physics Division, VIT-
Chennai
 Engineering Physics - PHY 1701; N. Punithavelan, Assistant Professor, Physics Division,
VIT-Chennai

d ψ I d ψ II
at x =0 , =
dx dx

i k 1 A e i k x −i k 1 B e−i k x =k 2 C e k x −k 2 D e−k
1 1 2 2 x

at x =0 ,i k 1 A−ik 1 B=k 2 C−k 2 D

at x =L, ψ II =ψ III
k2 x −k 2 x
ψ II =C e + D e

ψ III =ψ III +¿= F e ik 1 x

¿

C e k x + D e−k x =F ei k
2 2 1 x

at x =L, C e k L + D e−k L =F e i k
2 2 1 L

d ψ II k x −k x
=k 2 C e −k 2 D e 2 2

dx

d ψ III ik L
=i k 1 F e 1

dx

d ψ II d ψ III
at x =L, =
dx dx

at x =L, k 2 C e k x −k 2 D e−k x =i k 1 F ei k
2 2 1 L

C k 2 e k L −k 2 D e−k L =i k 1 F ei k
2 2 1 L

1 i k 2 k 1 ( i k +k ) L 1 i k 2 k 1 (i k −k
A
( )
F
= +
[ ( )]
−
2 4 k1 k2
e + − −
2 4 k 1 k2
e 1 2

[ ( )] 1 2 )L

k2 k1 k2
− ≈
k1 k2 k1

e k L ≫ e−k L
2 2

Engineering Physics - PHY 1701; N. Punithavelan, Assistant Professor, Physics Division, VIT-
Chennai
 Engineering Physics - PHY 1701; N. Punithavelan, Assistant Professor, Physics Division,
VIT-Chennai

A 1 ik
( )
F [
= + 2 e(
2 4 k1
ik + k )L
] 1 2

A ¿ 1 ik2 (−i k +k ) L
( )
F
= −
2 4k1
e
[ ] 1 2

k 22
AA ¿ 1
FF ¿ =
4 [
+
16 k 1 2
2k L
e( )
] 2

T =¿ ¿ ¿

AA ¿ −1
FF ¿ 16
( )
[ ( )] e−2 k L
2
= =
FF ¿ AA ¿ k 2
4+ 2
k1

k 2 2 2 m ( U −E ) /ђ2 U
( )
k1
=
2 mE /ђ2
= −1
E

FF¿ −2 k 2 L
T= =e
AA ¿

Engineering Physics - PHY 1701; N. Punithavelan, Assistant Professor, Physics Division, VIT-
Chennai