Two-level electron dynamics in a strong variable external field

This paper studies the quantum dynamics of an electron in a double-well potential subject to a strong time-periodic nonharmonic external field. The quasienergy spectrum of the system is calculated and an expression for the electron density distribution is derived. It is found that under certain conditions imposed on the shape of the excitation, the electron wave packet gets locked, into one potential well, as it were, and is unable to tunnel through the potential barrier. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.