Quantum tunneling mystery solved after 100 years—and it involves a surprise collision

Quantum tunneling mystery solved after 100 years—and it involves a surprise collision

For the first time ever, scientists have watched electrons perform a bizarre quantum feat: tunneling through atomic barriers by not just slipping through, but doubling back and slamming into the nucleus mid-tunnel. This surprising finding, led by POSTECH and Max Planck physicists, redefines our understanding of quantum tunneling—a process that powers everything from the sun to your smartphone.

Scientists Finally Solved a Century-Old Quantum Puzzle: Unveiling the Electron Tunnel

In a groundbreaking study published in Physical Review Letters, researchers led by Professor Dong Eon Kim of POSTECH’s Department of Physics have solved a century-old mystery surrounding quantum tunneling. This study, conducted in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, sheds light on the surprising behavior of electrons within a quantum tunnel. For the first time, scientists have witnessed the complex interactions occur…