English

Effect of quantum fluctuations on even-odd energy difference in a Cooper-pair box

Superconductivity 2007-06-13 v2 Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics

Abstract

We study the effect of quantum charge fluctuations on the even-odd energy difference for a small superconducting island (Cooper-pair box) connected to a large finite-size superconductor by a tunnel junction. Even-odd energy difference is important for understanding the quasiparticle "poisoning" effect, and determines the activation energy of a trapped quasiparticle in the Cooper-pair box. We find that renormalization of the activation energy due to quantum charge fluctuations depends on the dimensionless normal-state conductance of the junction g_T, and becomes strong at g_T >> 1.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0612473,
  title  = {Effect of quantum fluctuations on even-odd energy difference in a Cooper-pair box},
  author = {R. M. Lutchyn},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0612473},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

4 pages, 2 figures