Isn't it inaccurate to use the Schrödinger equation to find the probability that a macroscopic object will undergo quantum tunneling?

Question

Since Schrödinger's equation doesn't show wavefunction decay or quantum decoherence, isn't it inaccurate to calculate the probability that a person or macroscopic object will quantum tunneling? I think the probability is zero if we include wavefunction collapse and quantum decoherence.

Answer 1

Decoherence still happens in the schrodinger model. All the different math frameworks for quantum i.e schrodinger, or hamiltonians, whichever you want, are exactly the same in terms of results from calculations. If you have a wavefunction that interacts with enviroment then you combine the wavefunction of the particle and that of the environment into a single wave function. Further if you meaured the particle to collapse it, what is really happening is you are combining your wavefunction with that of the particle.

Macroscopic objects have an expoentially small non 0 chance of tunneling. Schrodinger equations works perfectly well for basic quantum mechanics like this.