1. Metastable states in classical and quantum systems
- Author
-
Mark Makela, Samantha Parmley, and Roger Yu
- Subjects
Physics ,symbols.namesake ,Coherent wave ,Fourier transform ,Transmission (telecommunications) ,Metastability ,Quantum mechanics ,Spectrum (functional analysis) ,symbols ,General Physics and Astronomy ,Signal ,Quantum ,Quantum tunnelling - Abstract
The classical vibrational metastable states in a one-dimensional two-mass system are investigated experimentally and theoretically via the transmission of a coherent wave packet propagating through the system. The Fourier transform of the vibrational signal recorded in between the masses reveals resonant excitations by the coherent wave packet. The time-resolved spectrum indicates that the lifetime of a metastable state of higher frequency is longer than that of lower frequency, which is in contrast with the quantum mechanical double-barrier system. This study, which is easily accessible to physics majors, also demonstrates quantum resonant tunneling in a very simple classical way.
- Published
- 1997