Published September 2004 | Version v1
Journal article

Tunneling through nonstationary barriers and Euclidean resonance

Creators

  • 1. Instituto de Fisica, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, SLP 78000 (Mexico)
  • 2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208 (United States)

Description

The phenomenon of Euclidean resonance (a strong enhancement of quantum tunneling through a nonstationary potential barrier) is applied to disintegration of atoms and molecules through tunnel barriers formed by applied constant and time-dependent electric fields. There are two different channels for such disintegration, electronic and ionic. The electronic mechanism is associated with the ionization of a molecule into an electron and a positive ion. The required frequencies are in a wide range between 100 MHz and the infrared. This mechanism may constitute a method of selective destruction of chemical bonds. The ionic mechanism consists of dissociation of a molecule into two ions. Since an ion is more massive than an electron, the necessary frequency is about 1 MHz. This provides the theoretical possibility of a different method of isotope separation by radio frequency waves

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. A
Journal Volume
70
Journal Issue
3
Journal Page Range
p. 032110-032110.12
ISSN
1050-2947
CODEN
PLRAAN

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2004 The American Physical Society