Cited by 406Quantum Mechanics and ApplicationsAdvanced Physical and Chemical Molecular InteractionsAtomic and Molecular Physics

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Quantum mechanical tunnelling in biological systems

Devault, Don·1980·Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics

DOI 10.1017/s003358350000175x

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Abstract

‘Tunnelling’ is the metaphorical name given to the process, possible in quantum mechanics, but not in classical mechanics, whereby a particle can disappear from one side of a potential-energy barrier and appear on the other side without having enough kinetic energy to mount the barrier. One can think of this as a manifestation of the wave-nature of particles. The wavelength is larger if a particle is lighter. In particular electrons, being very light compared to atoms, have wavelengths as large or larger than atoms at energies found in the valence shells of molecules. Thus, they easily ooze through and around atoms and molecules. We are also concerned with the tunnelling of heavy particles: nuclei, atoms, molecules.

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Items 401–451 of 451

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Self-citation
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Self-citation
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Knox, R. S. (1979) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-167860-9.50012-4 · Cited by 1
TUNNELING IN NETWORK MODELS OF MOLECULAR CHAINS
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ELECTRON TRANSPORT IN THE SUCCINATE-UBIQUINONE SEGMENT OF THE RESPIRATORY CHAIN
Salerno, J. C., & Ohnishi, T. (1979) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-167860-9.50038-0 · Cited by 1
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AN APPLICATION OF ELECTRON TRANSFER THEORY TO A PROBLEM IN CHLOROPLAST MEMBRANE TOPOGRAPHY
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Authors: Devault, D.
Affiliations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
Corresponding author: Devault, Don
Venue: Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published: 1980-11
Volume: 13
Issue: 4
Pages: 387-564
ISSN: 0033-5835 (ISSN-L)
1469-8994
DOI: 10.1017/s003358350000175x
OpenAlex: W2106021839
Cited by: 406
References: 459
Citations by year: 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
FWCI: 1.00
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 10363 d)
Locations: Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Quantum Mechanics and Applications
Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Physical and Theoretical Chemistry › Advanced Physical and Chemical Molecular Interactions
Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Atomic and Molecular Physics
Keywords: quantum tunneling, biological systems, potential barrier, wave-particle duality, electron tunneling, valence shell
MeSH terms: Animals, Electron Transport, Kinetics, Mathematics, Mitochondria, Models, Biological, Oxidation-Reduction, Oxidative Phosphorylation, Photosynthesis, Quantum Theory

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Quantum mechanical tunnelling in biological systems

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