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The Escape of Particles from a Quantum Well

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

James P. Lavine
James P. Lavine*
Affiliation:
Microelectronics Technology Division, Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY 14650-2008
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Abstract

The escape rate is calculated for an electron in a one-dimensional potential well. First-order time-dependent perturbation theory is used with solutions of Schrödinger's equation and a set of coupled rate equations is numerically solved. The time evolution of an ensemble of one-electron systems is followed and the fraction of systems that remain in a bound state is found to decay exponentially as time passes. The characteristic time constant for the decay grows exponentially with an increase in the well depth. This is analogous to Kramers' result for the classical escape problem.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 366: Symposium N – Dynamics in Small Confining Systems , 1994 , 353
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

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