Quantum tunneling is a quantum mechanical phenomenon where a particle can pass through a potential barrier that it classically could not surmount. This phenomenon is essential in various physical and biological processes.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Quantum tunneling contributes to the operation of electron microscopes by allowing electrons to penetrate thin samples, providing high-resolution images.
It explains how enzymes catalyze reactions at rates much faster than classical theories predict.
Quantum tunneling is integral to the functioning of scanning tunneling microscopes (STM), which are used to view surfaces at the atomic level.
The probability of quantum tunneling decreases exponentially with increasing barrier thickness and height.
Quantum tunneling occurs because particles exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties, according to quantum mechanics.