Science solves a mystery that has been around for a hundred years in all AMD, Intel, and Nvidia chips.
A group of physicists from around the world has solved one of the oldest problems in quantum mechanics: the electron tunneling effect, which is present in almost all modern technologies but is not visible.
This groundbreaking discovery has a direct impact on the electronic chips manufactured by companies such as AMD, Intel, and Nvidia, which are currently cornerstones of computing. The research was led by Dong-Eun Kim, a physicist at POSTECH University, in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute in Germany.
The study, published in the journal Physical Review Letters , sheds light on exactly what happens when an electron crosses an energy barrier, something that, according to classical physics, is supposed to be impossible.
The phenomenon known as quantum tunneling describes how particles like electrons can overcome seemingly impossible energy barriers. This phenomenon is fundamental to the workings of semiconductors, which are found in computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices.
Furthermore, this barrier plays a crucial role in processes such as nuclear fusion. Until now, scientists understood what happens before and after this process, but they did not understand what happens while the electron passes through the barrier.
To study this, the team used ultra-powerful laser pulses to drive electrons into this quantum tunneling state.
This discovery was surprising, as electrons do not simply cross the barrier but interact with the atom's nucleus even while inside it. This phenomenon has been termed sub-barrier recollision.
This idea contradicts theories that have prevailed for decades, which assumed that this interaction only occurs after exiting the tunnel. Furthermore, the study focused on what is called the non-adibatic tunnel in extreme environments, revealing behaviors that previous models could not explain. Of particular note is the Freeman resonance, which proved to be even more influential than anticipated.
Furthermore, experiments confirmed the predictions of the new model, showing that electrons can gain energy inside the barrier and collide back with the nucleus, greatly increasing ionization levels.
According to Professor Kim, this discovery allows us to understand and control the behavior of electrons with unprecedented precision.
The implications are enormous: from the development of faster, more efficient electronic chips to advances in quantum computing and ultrafast lasers. Understanding this phenomenon could mark the beginning of a new technological era, one that pushes the boundaries of current electronics.