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I understand quantum tunnelling while thought as the one happening in fusion.But could someone explain the process when we're talking about a particle passing through a physical barrier not just a potential barrier?
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Quantum tunnelling is a phenomenon in which particles are able to pass through energy barriers that would normally be impenetrable according to classical physics. This is possible due to the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics.
In quantum tunnelling, particles have a small but non-zero probability of appearing on the other side of an energy barrier, even if they do not have enough energy to overcome it. This is possible because of the wave-like behavior of particles at the quantum level.
Quantum tunnelling plays a critical role in many processes in the natural world, such as radioactive decay and nuclear fusion. It also has important applications in fields such as electronics and microscopy.
Yes, quantum tunnelling has been experimentally observed and has been confirmed as a real phenomenon in the field of quantum mechanics. It is a well-established and widely accepted concept in physics.
While quantum tunnelling cannot be controlled in the traditional sense, it can be influenced by changing the properties of the barrier or the particles involved. This has led to applications such as quantum tunneling transistors and scanning tunneling microscopes.