A particle has a total energy that is less than that of a potential barrier. When the particle penetrates the barrier, its wave function is
A) a positive constant.
B) exponentially increasing.
C) oscillatory.
D) exponentially decreasing.
E) none of the above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a particle has a total energy that is less than that of a potential barrier, it can still penetrate the barrier via quantum tunneling. The wave function of the particle in the barrier region is described by an exponentially decreasing function, known as the evanescent wave. Therefore, the correct choice is D, exponentially decreasing.

A Particle Has a Total Energy That Is Less Than