Classical and quantum escape rates of particles from potential wells for all values of the dissipation

Abstract

The thesis is concerned with the calculation of the escape rate of a Brownian particle out of a deep potential well. A new derivation of the Kramers energy controlled diffusion equation using only the concept of the Langevin equation with multiplicative noise is presented. This equation of motion for the distribution function of Brownian particles in a potential well is applicable when the dissipation to the thermal bath is very low.