QUANTUM TUNNELING, DYNAMICAL SYMMETRY, AND QUANTUM REVIVAL

Quantum tunneling dynamics of a periodically driven symmetric double-w ell system is studied within the framework of the Floquet theory. The role that a dynamical symmetry of the system plays in connection with tunneling is analyzed. The analysis shows that, in order to fully desc ribe tunneling exhibited by a system with a dynamical symmetry, one sh ould look at wave functions at times corresponding to integral multipl es of the period of the driving force plus one-half period. The analys is shows also that tunneling can be understood to occur as a result of the quantum revival, a phenomenon well known in quantum optics.