But what about the process of quantum tunneling to which quantum cosmologists refer? Does that provide a physical mechanism, rather than just a mathematical equation, for explaining the origin of the universe? In fact, it doesn’t. Recall that quantum cosmology is based upon an analogy with ordinary quantum mechanics. The idea of quantum tunneling extends this analogy. Quantum tunneling in ordinary quantum mechanics refers to a process by which a physically bounded subatomic particle can overcome a potential energy barrier even though the particle in question,
