Photon Tunneling—Superluminal Velocity?

Abstract

Recently, there has been a great deal of interest in tunneling times. In particular, there seems to be experimental evidence that the tunneling velocity of photons exceed the velocity of light [11],[42]. Attempts of explaining these observations have been based on quantum theory. In an effort to find out if bitemporal effects can possibly contribute to the understanding of these puzzling effects the present chapter analyzes photon tunneling from the viewpoint of the neoclassical theory. As photon tunneling is a universal effect not limited to optical photons, we shall consider a microwave version of tunneling in the waveguide configuration shown in Fig. 11.1. The transmission system consists of an undercut Transverse Electric TE ₁₀ waveguide section B of length L ₀ and width a inserted into a regular propagating waveguide transmission path. For convenience the rectangular dimensions are the same through-out the entire configuration. By appropriate choice of frequency below the TE ₁₀ cut-off frequency ω _c , section B will be nonpropagating, with cut-off frequency given by

$$ {\omega_c} = c\frac{\pi }{a} $$

((11.1))

. The adjoining waveguide sections, the input section A and the output section C, contain lossless dielectric material with dielectric constant $\varepsilon > {\varepsilon_0}$.

‘In nature’s infinite book of Secrecy a little I can read.’

The soothsayer in Shakespeare’s Anthony and Cleopatra