Chapter 25: Some Examples of Quantum Tunneling in Atomic and Molecular Physics

There are numerous examples in the physics of atomic and molecular physics where quantum tunneling plays an important role in the explanation of the observed behavior of the system. We have already seen that the splitting of the energy levels in a double-well potential such as in ammonia molecule is due to tunneling [1]. We will discuss the energy levels of this molecule later in this chapter. We also study in greater detail some of the other simple problems in atomic and molecular physics where tunneling dominates the dynamics of the system.