Approximation Rectangular Function as Potential Barrier

Abstract Quantum tunneling occurs in the isomerization of hydroxymethylene into formaldehyde. Experiments and theory have proven the occurrence of it but both of them have a different result of the half-life of 0.7 hours. The differences the result is the motivation in this study. In theoretical, the probability of quantum tunneling calculates by Wentzel, Kreamer, Berlioun (WKB) approximation. This study calculates probability quantum tunneling use WKB and rectangular function approximation. The calculation of quantum tunneling probability with rectangular function approximation started at 1, 3, 5, 7 until 59 rectangular functions potential barrier use transfer matrix method to simplify the calculation. We use Gaussian function as the potential barrier that the height and width of the potential barrier satisfy the character of the potential barrier in isomerization hydroxymethylene barrier to formaldehyde. And the result, we get the minimum number of rectangular potential barrier to obtain a stable quantum tunneling probability value of 35 potential.