English

Stabilization of quantum metastable states by dissipation

Quantum Physics 2018-04-10 v1 Statistical Mechanics

Abstract

Normally, quantum fluctuations enhance the escape from metastable states in the presence of dissipation. Here we show that dissipation can enhance the stability of a quantum metastable system, consisting of a particle moving in a strongly asymmetric double well potential, interacting with a thermal bath. We find that the escape time from the metastable state has a nonmonotonic behavior versus the system-bath coupling and the temperature, producing a stabilizing effect.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1503.03043,
  title  = {Stabilization of quantum metastable states by dissipation},
  author = {D. Valenti and L. Magazzù and P. Caldara and B. Spagnolo},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1503.03043},
  year   = {2018}
}

Comments

4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. B

R2 v1 2026-06-22T08:49:11.778Z