Numerical study of electron-tunneling through heterostructures

Abstract

A numerical scheme based on the discretized form of the one-dimensional Schrodinger equation is presented. Using a transfer matrix method we recursively compute the transmission coefficient for electrons in arbitrary potentials. The computation time and storage are much reduced so that the code may be implemented by most programmable pocket calculators. The numerical method is used to study electron tunneling through single and double heterostructures, and the accuracy of the method is discussed.