We consider a phase-coherent system of two parallel quantum wires that are
coupled via a tunneling barrier of finite length. The usual perturbative tr
eatment of tunneling fails in this case, even in the diffusive limit, once
the length L of the coupling region exceeds a characteristic length scale L
, set by tunneling. Exact solution of the scattering problem posed by the e
xtended tunneling barrier allows us to compute tunneling conductances as a
function of applied voltage and magnetic field. We take into account chargi
ng effects in the quantum wires due to applied voltages and find that these
are important for one-dimensional-to-one-dimensional tunneling transport.