Quantum mechanical tunneling through a time-dependent barrier

We present a numerical investigation of quantum mechanical tunneling process in a time-dependent (fluctuating) barrier using a one dimensional model of Eckart barrier. The tunneling probability is calculated for two cases in which (1) the height of the barrier is undergoing harmonic oscillation with frequency omega and (2) the location of the barrier is undergoing harmonic oscillation with frequency omega. It is observed in both cases that the quantum mechanical tunneling probability exhibits a maximum as a function of the oscillating frequency omega between the low and high frequency Limits. The physical origin and process underlying this resonantlike phenomenon are proposed in this paper based on the current model study. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.