Unveiling Hidden Dynamics: Speed Measurements of Tunneling Particles

For nearly a century, quantum tunneling has been a subject of sustained scientific interest. In a prior investigation [1], we introduced an unconventional method to explore evanescent phenomena at step potentials by examining particle motion within a system of coupled waveguides. In this system, the transfer of particles between waveguides serves as a clock, facilitating the determination of particle speeds even in classically forbidden regions. We implement this idea for photons in optical microcavity, which has full experimental access to the wave function. Using a novel nanostructuring method [2], we can guide photons in diverse potential landscapes, specifically within a coupled waveguiding structure. We measure particle speeds both in classically allowed and forbidden regions. Our measurements show that classically forbidden regions speed up the motion of photons. Moreover, our findings emphasize the significance of density gradients in wave functions for the motion of particles. We hope, these outcomes will provide valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of quantum tunneling phenomena, in particular make useful contribution to the tunneling time debate.
[1] Klaers, J., Sharoglazova, V., & Toebes, C. (2023). Physical Review A, 107(5), 052201.
[2] Vretenar, M., Puplauskis, M., Klaers, J.. Adv. Optical Mater. 2023, 2202820.