Past exam of the theoretical physics II course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / Paper 1 / 6 / c

Let $z=E-V_0+i0$. The outgoing analytic branch of Klein-Gordon step momentum iswhere each square root is continued from the upper half-plane. It behaves as $z/(\hslash c)$ at large positive or negative real $z$. The branch points are $E=V_0\pm M$; replacing this product by a principal square root of $z^2-M^2$ can choose the wrong sign below the lower threshold.

I. For $E-V_0>M$, $q>0$ and both transmitted kinetic energy and group velocity are positive. Thus $0\le \mathcal{R}<1$ and $\mathcal{T}=4kq/(k+q{)}^2>0$; the transmission decreases to zero on approaching the upper threshold from above.

II. For $|E-V_0|<M$, write $q=i\kappa$ with $\kappa =\sqrt{M^2-(E-V_0{)}^2}/(\hslash c)>0$. The right wave decays, $r=(k-i\kappa )/(k+i\kappa )$ has modulus one, and $\mathcal{T}=0$. There is an evanescent tail but no flux transmitted to infinity. Its reflection quantum phase changes continuously between the two thresholds.

III. For $E-V_0<-M$, the analytic continuation gives $q=-Q$, where $Q=\sqrt{(E-V_0{)}^2-M^2}/(\hslash c)>0$. The group velocity $c^2\hslash q/(E-V_0)$ is again rightward, while the charge density and transmitted charge current are negative. ThereforeChoosing $q=+Q$ would describe a wavepacket arriving from the right, inconsistent with the chosen incoming channel. As the lower threshold is approached, $q\to 0^{-}$ and $\mathcal{R}\to 1$ from above. This Klein-Gordon step amplification has a real denominator zero at $E=V_0/2$ when $V_0>2M$: there $Q=k$, and no finite stationary solution with unit incoming amplitude satisfies both matching equations. The resulting formal pole must not be described as an infinite single-particle probability. Finite switching, wavepackets and the treatment of the external source require a multiparticle analysis.^[ref]