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arXiv · 1204.4802

Tunneling of the 3rd Kind: A Test of the Effective Non-locality of Quantum Field Theory

Simon A. Gardiner·Holger Gies·Joerg Jaeckel·Chris J. Wallace
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Abstract

Integrating out virtual quantum fluctuations in an originally local quantum field theory results in an effective theory which is non-local. In this Letter we argue that tunneling of the 3rd kind - where particles traverse a barrier by splitting into a pair of virtual particles which recombine only after a finite distance - provides a direct test of this non-locality. We sketch a quantum-optical setup to test this effect, and investigate observable effects in a simple toy model.

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Simon A. Gardiner, Holger Gies, Joerg Jaeckel, Chris J. Wallace. 2013-04-09. Tunneling of the 3rd Kind: A Test of the Effective Non-locality of Quantum Field Theory. https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075%2F101%2F61001

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