About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Publication
Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics
Paper
On the nature of the image force in quantum mechanics with application to photon assisted tunnelling and photoemission
Abstract
The appropriate generalisation of the classical image force to quantum mechanics is discussed. Photon assisted tunnelling and internal photoemission are discussed in the light of this generalisation. Essentially, the qualitative result is that the quantum mechanical image force potential is reduced from the classical result by the transmission probability of the interface. As a consequence, no image force is expected in photon assisted tunnelling, whereas essentially the classical result is expected in internal photoemission. This result is in qualitative agreement with experiment.