Calculation of quantum tunneling for a spatially extended defect: The dislocation kink in copper has a low effective mass

Abstract

The quantum tunneling of dislocation jogs and kinks in copper was investigated using an atomistic calculation. The structures, energy barriers, effective masses, and quantum tunneling rates were determined using the molecular-dynamics calculations. It was found that the kinks have large quantum fluctuations leading to a small effective mass and tunneling barriers.