Application of Fourier series methods for studying tunnelling of electronsout of quantum wells in an electric field

The electron energy shifts and mean tunnelling lifetimes in a quantum well with different potential profiles under an applied electric field are calcu lated using Fourier series methods. In the present work, single-rectangular , symmetric double, and diffusion-modified quantum wells have been taken in to account. The mean lifetime at high field strength obtained from the time evolution of the wave packets is found to be lower than that obtained from the conventional standing-wave approach.