FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is quantum tunnelling?

Quantum tunnelling defined as quantum mechanical process where wavefunctions penetrate through potential barrier in finite and relies exponentially on the barrier width and barrier height as the wave functions have the genuine probability of disappearing on one side and reappearing on the remaining side.

Explain the relationship between scanning tunnelling microscopes and quantum tunnelling.

Heinrich Rohrer and Gerd Binning developed scanning tunnelling microscopes (STM) helps to observe objects at atomic levels by utilising the connection between quantum tunnelling with distance and analyses the surface by using a sharp conducting tip that can differentiate characteristics smaller than 0.1 nm with a 0.01 nm depth resolution. Individual atoms can be consistently imaged and manipulated.

Explain the relationship between nuclear fusion and quantum tunnelling.

Quantum tunnelling is a crucial part of nuclear fusion. The average temperature of a star’s core is usually not sufficient for atomic nuclei to overcome the Coulomb barrier and kick start thermonuclear fusion. The tunnelling increases the chances of infiltrating this barrier. Though the probability is still low, the huge number of nuclei in the stellar core is enough to drive a steady fusion reaction.

Explain the relationship between electronics and quantum tunnelling.

Tunnelling is a frequent source of current leakage in very-large-scale integration (VLSI) electronics. The VLSI electronics experience substantial power loss and heating effects that cripple such devices usually considered the lower threshold on how microelectronic device elements can be created. Tunnelling is also a basic technique employed to set the floating gates in flash memory of cold emission, tunnel junction, quantum-dot cellular automata, tunnel diode, and tunnel field-effect transistors are some of the main electronic processes or devices that use quantum tunnelling.