user: Explain quantum tunneling to me in detail provided I have some physics knowledge from university

assistant: A particle, such as an electron or an atom, can pass through a potential barrier that it would not be able to do so traditionally thanks to the quantum mechanical phenomena known as quantum tunneling. Or to put it another way, it is a phenomena where a particle may pass through a wall that its energy would normally prevent it from doing.

The wave-like characteristics of particles are connected to the quantum tunneling process. Particles can exist in a wave-like condition in which their location and momentum are variable, according to quantum mechanics. This implies that the particle can spread out and explore a wide range of potential states rather of being constrained to the classical energy of the barrier. The particle can cross the barrier and emerge on the other side if its wave-like condition spreads widely enough.

The height and breadth of the barrier affect the likelihood of a particle tunneling. The likelihood that a particle will tunnel through a barrier decreases with its height and width. The particle's energy also has a significant impact on the tunneling effect. The likelihood that a particle will be able to tunnel through a barrier increases with particle energy.

In conclusion, quantum tunneling is a property of quantum mechanics that allows a particle to pass through a potential barrier that it would not be able to do otherwise. The barrier's height, breadth, and energy of the particle all affect how often this phenomena is to take place.

user: How often does quantum tunnelling happen in ordinary room temperature matter?

assistant: Quantum tunneling can occur in ordinary room temperature matter, but the frequency and magnitude of such events depend on several factors, including the size and energy of the particles involved, the thickness and composition of the barrier they are trying to tunnel through, and the temperature and pressure of the environment.

In general, quantum tunneling is more likely to occur in smaller particles with lower energies, and it becomes less probable as the particles become larger and more energetic. In room temperature matter, the most commonly observed instances of quantum tunneling involve individual electrons, which can tunnel through energy barriers to move from one location to another within a material.

The rate of quantum tunneling in a material also depends on the thickness and composition of the barriers that the particles are trying to tunnel through. In many materials, there are numerous small energy barriers that electrons must tunnel through in order to move around or interact with other particles. The frequency of these events can be quite high, with millions or even billions of electrons tunneling through barriers every second.

However, for larger particles, such as atoms or molecules, the energy barriers that they encounter are typically much larger, and quantum tunneling becomes less common. At room temperature and pressure, the rate of quantum tunneling for these larger particles is generally very low, although it can still occur under certain conditions, such as when the particles are confined to a very small space or subjected to high pressures.

In summary, quantum tunneling can occur in ordinary room temperature matter, but the rate and magnitude of these events depend on various factors, including the size and energy of the particles involved, the thickness and composition of the barriers they are trying to tunnel through, and the temperature and pressure of the environment.