Potential well

The physical concept of the potential well is a descriptive term for the region to a local minimum of the potential distribution of the system. One uses here the idea of a body in a gravitational field, eg the earth. The body is located in a pot, it can leave them only when it is raised by supplying the appropriate amount of energy on to the pot rim.

The for leaving a potential well necessary boundary energy is sharply defined in classical physics. A certain probability have atomic particles, even if they have less than the energy required to leave the pot outside the potential well (see tunnel effect): For objects that need to be described with quantum mechanics that no longer applies.

A potential barrier is the opposite of a potential well, ie, the region around a local maximum of the potential distribution.