Skip to main content
Log in

Derivation of tunneling probabilities for arbitrarily graded potential barriers using modified Airy functions

  • Published:
Optical and Quantum Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 25 October 2013

Abstract

General expressions of tunneling probability for arbitrarily graded potential barriers are rigorously derived using the modified Airy functions. Three types of graded potential barriers for which exact solutions exist are taken as examples for comparison’s purpose. Results obtained by the proposed method are confirmed to be in fairly good agreement with exact ones, demonstrating the usefulness of the modified Airy functions method.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abramowitz M., Stegun I.A.: Handbook of mathematical functions, pp. 446. Dover Publication, New York (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ando Y., Itoh T.: Calculation of transmission tunneling current across arbitrary potential barriers. J. Appl. Phys. 61, 1497–1502 (1987)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Berglund W., Gopinath A.: WKB analysis of bend losses in optical waveguides. IEEE J. Lightwave Technol. 18, 1161–1166 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Christodoulides D.N., Andreou A.G., Joseph R.I., Westgate C.R.: Analytical calculation of the quantum-mechanical transmission coefficient for a triangular planar-doped potential barrier. Solid-State Electron 28, 821–822 (1985)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Chung M.-S., Kim C.-M.: General eigenvalue equations for optical planar waveguides with arbitrarily graded-index profiles. IEEE J. Lightwave Technol. 18, 878–885 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gasiorowicz S.: Quantum Physics, pp. 86–89. Wiley, New York (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim C.-M., Chung M.-S.: Eigenvalue equations of N-parallel graded-index waveguides: WKB analysis. IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 33(9), 1608–1613 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim C.-M., Kim Y.-M., Kim W.-K.: Leaky modes of circular slab waveguides: modified Airy functions. IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 8, 1239–1245 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landau L.D., Lifshitz E.M.: Quantum Mechanics. Non-Relativistic Theory, pp. 79–80. Pergamon Press, London (1965)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Langer R.E.: On the asymptotic solutions of ordinary differential equations, with an application to the Bessel functions of large order. Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 33, 23–64 (1931)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahapatra P.K., Panchadhyayee P., Bhattacharya S.P., Khan A.: Resonant tunneling in electrically biased multibarrier systems. Phys. B 403, 2780–2788 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura K., Shimizu A., Koshiba M., Hayata K.: Finite-element calculation of the transmission probability and the resonant-tunneling lifetime through arbitrary potential barriers. IEEE J. Quantum Electron 27, 1189–1198 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Panchadhyayee P., Biswas R., Khan A., Mahapatra P.K.: Current density in generalized Fibonacci superlattices under a uniform electric field. J. Phys. Condens. Matter. 20, 275243 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Powell J.L., Crasemann B.: Quantum Mechanics, pp. 140–153. Addison Wesley, Reading (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricco B., Azbel M.: Physics of resonant tunneling. The one-dimensional double-barrier case. Phys. Rev. B 29, 1970–1981 (1984)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Roy S., Ghatak A.K., Goyal I.C., Gallawa R.L.: Modified airy function method for the analysis of tunneling problems in optical waveguides and quantum-well structures. IEEE J. Quantum Electron 29, 340–345 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Young M., Demas N., Ventrice C.: Analytic calculation of electron transmission probability for planar-doped potential barrier devices. J. Appl. Phys. 71, 498–502 (1992)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chang-Min Kim.

Additional information

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11082-013-9803-0.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lee, KT., Jung, E.J., Kim, C.H. et al. Derivation of tunneling probabilities for arbitrarily graded potential barriers using modified Airy functions. Opt Quant Electron 42, 129–141 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-010-9434-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-010-9434-7

Keywords

Navigation