2008/02/07 by Marco Zoli, MARCO ZOLI
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Quantum Mechanics and Non-Hermitian Physics #Quantum chaos and dynamical systems #Spectral Theory in Mathematical Physics #cond-mat.stat-mech
paper · pdf · doi:10.1142/s021797920803865x
published as Int.J.Mod.Phys.B22:327-342,2008 · Int. J. Mod. Phys. B (2008) in press
arxiv created 2008/02/07 · openalex publication_date 2008/02/10 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2019/06/27 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The Euclidean path integral method is applied to a quantum tunneling model which accounts for finite size (L) effects. The general solution of the Euler Lagrange equation for the double well potential is found in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions. The antiperiodic instanton interpolates between the potential minima at any finite L inside the quantum regime, and generalizes the well-known (anti)kink solution of the infinite size case. The derivation of the functional determinant, stemming from the quantum fluctuation contribution, is given in detail. The explicit formula for the finite size semiclassical path integral is presented.