Tunnel Effect for Ultrasonic Waves in Tapered Waveguides

Abstract

Traversal time in the tunneling effect for ultrasonic waves in tapered waveguides is derived considering its analogy with quantum and electromagnetic wave tunneling. If, as traversal time, the so-called phase time is considered, the ultrasonic wave packet shows the equivalent in acoustics of superluminality, i.e., the derived velocity, crosses the limit of bulk transverse ultrasonic waves in the medium of the waveguide that is the equivalent of c in the quantum and electromagnetic cases. The graphs clearly illustrating this so-called Hartman effect are obtained confirming the experimental results in the three different fields.

Keywords

• tunnel effect
• traversal time
• ultrasonic waveguides