Real trajectories in complex-time method and barrier penetrationlike phenomena

Abstract

Various applications of the real trajectories in the complex-time method are discussed. It is shown that the proper way of summation over semiclassical orbits removes existing doubts and leads to the more general formulas than the standard WKB-type one in the energy eigenvalue problem. This method is also used in the description of explicitly time-dependent phenomena. In the problem of escaping from a metastable state, the estimation of a lifetime is in a good agreement with the inverse width of a false ground state energy. © 1992 American Institute of Physics.