quantum tunnel

present singular third person quantum tunnels · US participle present quantum tunneling · UK participle present quantum tunnelling · US participle past quantum tunneled · US past quantum tunneled · UK participle past quantum tunnelled · UK past quantum tunnelled · alternative quantum-tunnel

1. intransitivetransitiveuncommonquantum mechanicsTo undergo the process of quantum tunnelling.

   So the alpha particle quantum tunnels through the mountain and "the alpha particle is out."

   2016, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, J. Richard Gott, Welcome to the Universe, An Astrophysical Tour, page 385

2. idiomaticintransitivetransitiveuncommonTo move or travel from one point or direction to another in a very quick, rapid, or effortless manner.

   If you had dropped your mug and it had quantum tunneled to China, it would not have fallen to the floor.

   2017, Jonathan Ichikawa (editor), The Routledge Handbook of Epistemic Contextualism, page 417

   3 more examples

   The roll of fat jiggled as if to invite the other pieces, and, one by one, the other pieces quantum-tunneled through the tram's wall.

   2005, Rudy Rucker, Frek and the Elixir

   "Not very hospitable of them," he said, reaching for my hand. We quantum tunneled through the glass door. Inside, we froze.

   2015, Lesley L. Smith, The Quantum Cop

   If it can quantum tunnel in here, she thinks, why not quantum tunnel straight into the very core, and extract whatever price is, or is not, hiding in there?

   2021, Jetse de Vries, Forever Curious, page 103

   Synonyms: QT