THE STATIONARY TRAVERSAL TIME FOR TUNNELING

A conceptual experiment is proposed which allows to define the time ta ken for a particle to traverse a region with arbitrary potential profi le under quasi-stationary conditions. Its mathematical representation is used to examine the electron tunnelling time through a rectangular potential barrier. In particular, it is found that in the transparent- barrier limit the electron traverses the barrier quasi-ballistically, whereas in the opaque-barrier limit the tunnelling time rises exponent ially with the barrier width.