A wave packet localized within a binding potential feeds an outgoing probability current as it tunnels through a finite-width potential barrier, imprinting its localization-related information on the outgoing probability-current waveform. The product of the wave number and the gradient of the outgoing probability current provides a readout for this information, connecting to the wave-packet localization, Fisher information, and related information entropy production, thus revealing the information-flow underpinning of tunneling dynamics.

• Received 28 December 2022
• Revised 30 May 2023
• Accepted 11 July 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.108.022201