In this paper, an electron-tunneling model, equations were first derived for a tunnel track having two identical tunneling sites and a single tunneling electron was developed. In deriving the equations, certain assumptions and simplifications were made. It was assumed that the only electric field crossing the tunneling sites was due to membrane voltage and that the electric flux was parallel to the axis of the a-helix. Square energy wells could be used instead of parabolas, because the energy change due to membrane voltage is very small (<2kT), thus allowing a square well model for the ground state.

Chapter Contents:

• 2.1 A single electron two-site model
• 2.2 Amplification
• 2.3 A small force constant
• 2.4 Calculating frequencies
• 2.5 Amplification by NH3 inversion resonance
• 2.6 A voltage dependent amplification factor
• 2.7 The amplification energy window
• 2.8 NH3 inversion frequency reduction

Inspec keywords: tunnelling; ground states; membranes

Other keywords: ground state; tunnel track equations; α-helix axis; square energy wells; membrane voltage; single tunneling electron; electric flux; electric field crossing; electron tunneling model

Subjects: Tunnelling: general (electronic transport)