Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We study the decay of general initial states out of a metastable potential well in quantum mechanics. We provide a closed-form expression for the probability current that tunnels through the barrier in terms of the resonant states into which the initial state can be decomposed. All ingredients are computed analytically to first subleading order in the semiclassical limit. Specializing to a coherently-oscillating state, we derive an equivalent semiclassical approximation to the current via the path integral, which circumvents the decomposition into resonant states. We test the accuracy of the approximation by comparing it to a numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Institutions: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, New York University
Language: English
Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7160530240