ESTIMATE OF THE DWELL TIME FOR RESONANT TUNNELING ELECTRONS THROUGH A QUANTUM WELL

A general expression for the dwell time of resonant tunneling electrons through a 'generic quantum well' is presented with use of the transfer-matrix approach. Over the resonance energy range the dwell time vs energy has a Lorentzian form. For an asymmetric structure, the dwell time depends on the direction of the electrons approaching the system, proportional to the partial escape time from the outgoing boundary. For the symmetric potential the dwell time is equal to twice the escape time exactly.Physics, Condensed MatterSCI(E)EI7ARTICLE121215-12187