tunnel effect

tun·nel ef·fect

T t

Definitions of tunnel effect words

noun tunnel effect Physics. a quantum-mechanical process by which a particle can pass through a potential energy barrier that is higher than the energy of the particle: first postulated to explain the escape of alpha particles from atomic nuclei. 1
noun tunnel effect the phenomenon in which an object, usually an elementary particle, tunnels through a potential barrier even though it does not have sufficient energy to surmount the barrier. It is explained by wave mechanics and is the cause of alpha decay, field emission, and certain conduction processes in semiconductors 0

before 1930

One of the 10% newest English words

First recorded in 1930-35

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This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Only 6% of English native speakers know the meaning of this word.

According to our data most of word are more popular. This word is almost not used. It has a much more popular synonym.

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