A rectangular potential barrier is a concept from quantum mechanics that describes a situation in which a particle encounters a region in space where the potential energy is higher than the energy of the particle itself. This potential barrier has a defined height and width, resembling a rectangle when graphically represented.
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A rectangular potential barrier has a constant elevated potential over a finite interval and a lower constant potential outside it. Matching wavefunctions and derivatives at the interval endpoints gives its reflection and transmission amplitudes. It is a special potential barrier.