Document Type
Article
Department or Administrative Unit
Physics
Publication Date
7-1997
Abstract
The classical vibrational metastable states in a one-dimensional two-mass system are investigated experimentally and theoretically via the transmission of a coherent wave packet propagating through the system. The Fourier transform of the vibrational signal recorded in between the masses reveals resonant excitations by the coherent wave packet. The time-resolved spectrum indicates that the lifetime of a metastable state of higher frequency is longer than that of lower frequency, which is in contrast with the quantum mechanical double-barrier system. This study, which is easily accessible to physics majors, also demonstrates quantum resonant tunneling in a very simple classical way.
Recommended Citation
Makela, M., Parmley, S., & Yu, R. (1997). Metastable states in classical and quantum systems. American Journal of Physics, 65(7), 653–657. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18622
Journal
American Journal of Physics
Rights
© 1997 American Association of Physics Teachers
Comments
This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. This article appeared in American Journal of Physics 65, 653 (1997) and may be found here.