Which mechanism allows current flow between two isolated conductors separated by a thin insulator?

💡 Explanation

When two conductors are separated by a nanometer-scale insulator, electrons can tunnel through the barrier because their wave functions have a non-zero probability of existing on the other side, leading to observable current flow. Therefore, quantum mechanical tunneling results, rather than thermionic emission, capacitive displacement, or avalanche breakdown which require different energy scales or conditions.

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