tunnel effect

American  

noun

1. Physics. a quantum-mechanical process by which a particle can pass through a potential energy barrier that is higher than the energy of the particle: first postulated to explain the escape of alpha particles from atomic nuclei.

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tunnel effect British  

noun

1. physics the phenomenon in which an object, usually an elementary particle, tunnels through a potential barrier even though it does not have sufficient energy to surmount the barrier. It is explained by wave mechanics and is the cause of alpha decay, field emission, and certain conduction processes in semiconductors

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Etymology

Origin of tunnel effect

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

For three hours, we hiked in the shade of arching tree branches that created a tunnel effect.

From Washington Post • Aug. 4, 2022

Stacks of cardboard boxes lined the narrow hallway, creating a tunnel effect.

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2019

There is temporary lining on either side of the road, creating a slight tunnel effect, and the crowds and sounds and disorientation from having run so far can make familiar places seem foreign.

From New York Times • Nov. 3, 2016

An exceptionally long passageway bisects the guest accommodations, but Young has avoided the visual tunnel effect by building considerable curvature into its length.

From Time Magazine Archive