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Making Tunnel Barriers (Including Metals) Transparent

I. R. Hooper, T. W. Preist, and J. R. Sambles
Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 053902 – Published 3 August 2006
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Abstract

The classical “brick wall,” which may, according to quantum mechanics, leak via tunneling, is here shown to be completely transparent when appropriate impedance matching media are placed both in front of and behind the “wall.” Optical experiments involving beyond-critical-angle-tunnel barriers in the frustrated total internal reflection scheme which mimic quantum mechanical systems provide convincing proof of this remarkable effect. The same mechanism also allows vastly enhanced transmission through unstructured thin metal films without the need for surface wave excitation.

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  • Received 18 January 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.053902

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

I. R. Hooper, T. W. Preist, and J. R. Sambles

  • School of Physics, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QL, United Kingdom

See Also

Seeing through Silver

David Lindley
Phys. Rev. Focus 18, 4 (2006)

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Issue

Vol. 97, Iss. 5 — 4 August 2006

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