Related papers: Escape from a zero current state in a one dimensio…
The zero-voltage state of a Josephson junction biased with constant current consists of a set of metastable quantum energy levels. We probe the spacings of these levels by using microwave spectroscopy to enhance the escape rate to the…
We have studied quantum phase-slip (QPS) phenomena in long one-dimensional Josephson junction series arrays with tunable Josephson coupling. These chains were fabricated with as many as 2888 junctions, where one sample had a tunable weak…
Superconductors separated by a thin tunneling barrier exhibit the Josephson effect that allows charge transport at zero voltage, typically with no phase shift between the superconductors in the lowest energy state. Recently, Josephson…
The microwave-driven dynamics of the superconducting phase difference across a Josephson junction is now widely employed in superconducting qubits and quantum circuits. With the typical energy level separation frequency of several GHz,…
We introduce a new approach to the Josephson effect in SIS tunnel junctions. The Josephson coupling energy is calculated from the overlap of real space Cooper pair wavefunctions in two superconductors through an insulating barrier. It is…
Quantum phase transitions typically result in a broadened critical or crossover region at nonzero temperature. Josephson arrays are a model of this phenomenon, exhibiting a superconductor-insulator transition at a critical wave impedance,…
In the presence of phase fluctuations the dc Josephson effect is modified and the supercurrent at zero voltage is replaced by a peak at small but finite voltages. It is shown that at zero temperature this peak is determined by two…
We theoretically investigate the escape rate occurring via quantum tunneling in a system affected by tailored dissipation. Specifically, we study the environmental assisted quantum tunneling of the superconducting phase in a current-biased…
We report a theoretical analysis and experimental observation of the quantum dynamics of a single vortex-antivortex (VAV) pair confined in a long narrow annular Josephson junction. The switching of the junction from the superconducting…
We present a study of the first and second switches (SWs) with nearly identical switching current $I_{\rm SW}$ in Bi$_2$Sr$_2$Ca$_{0.85}$Y$_{0.15}$Cu$_2$O$_y$ intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs). In contrast to early studies where a large…
The supercurrent of a Josephson junction is reduced by phase diffusion. For ultrasmall capacitance junctions the current may be further decreased by Coulomb blockade effects. We calculate the Cooper pair current by means of time-dependent…
The Josephson coupling of two isotropic s-wave superconductors through a small, magnetically active junction is studied. This is done as a function of junction transparency and of the degree of spin-mixing occurring in the barrier. In the…
The discovery that a gate electrode suppresses the supercurrent in purely metallic systems is missing a complete physical understanding of the mechanisms at play. We here study the origin of this reduction in a Superconductor-Normal…
The linear conductance of a tunnel junction in series with an ohmic resistor is determined in the high temperature limit. The tunneling current is treated nonperturbatively by means of path integral techniques. Due to quantum effects the…
Quantum phase diffusion in a small underdamped Nb/AlO$_x$/Nb junction ($\sim$ 0.4 $\mu$m$^2$) is demonstrated in a wide temperature range of 25-140 mK where macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) is the dominant escape mechanism. We propose a…
A model of a superconducting tunnel junction coupled to a mechanical oscillator is studied at zero temperature in the case of linear coupling between the oscillator and tunneling electrons. It is found that the Josephson current flowing…
Resonant activation and noise-enhanced stability were observed in an underdamped real physical system, i.e., Josephson tunnel junctions. With a weak sinusoidal driving force applied, the thermal activated escape from a potential well…
The process of activation out a one-dimensional potential is investigated systematically in zero and nonzero temperature conditions. The features of the potential are traced through statistical escape out of its wells whose depths are tuned…
We have made a systematic investigation of charge transport in 1D chains of Josephson junctions where the characteristic Josephson energy is much less than the single-island Cooper-pair charging energy, $E_\mathrm{J}\ll E_{CP}$. Such chains…
Thermally-driven atmospheric escape evolves from an organized outflow (hydrodynamic escape) to escape on a molecule by molecules basis (Jeans escape) with increasing Jeans parameter, the ratio of the gravitational to thermal energy of…