Probing noise in flux qubits via macroscopic resonant tunneling

Macroscopic resonant tunneling between the two lowest lying states of a bistable rf SQUID is used to characterize noise in a flux qubit. Measurements of the incoherent decay rate as a function of flux bias revealed a Gaussian-shaped profile that is not peaked at the resonance point but is shifted to a bias at which the initial well is higher than the target well. The rms amplitude of the noise, which is proportional to the dephasing rate 1/tauphi, was observed to be weakly dependent on temperature below 70 mK. Analysis of these results indicates that the dominant source of low energy flux noise in this device is a quantum mechanical environment in thermal equilibrium.     

Possibility of observing magnetic macroscopic quantum tunneling using a scanning tunneling microscope

A theory describing the detection of magnetic macroscopic quantum tunneling on the basis of current fluctuations in a scanning tunneling microscope is proposed. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 1011–1020 (September 1997)     

Superconductivity-induced macroscopic resonant tunneling

We show analytically and by numerical simulations that the conductance through pi-biased chaotic Josephson junctions is enhanced by several orders of magnitude in the short-wavelength regime. We identify the mechanism behind this effect as macroscopic resonant tunneling through a macroscopic number of low-energy quasidegenerate Andreev levels.     

Dynamical tunneling in macroscopic systems

We investigate macroscopic dynamical quantum tunneling (MDQT) in the driven Duffing oscillator, characteristic for Josephson junction physics and nanomechanics. Under resonant conditions between stable coexisting states of such systems we calculate the tunneling rate. In macroscopic systems coupled to a heat bath, MDQT can be masked by driving-induced activation. We compare both processes, identify conditions under which tunneling can be detected with present day experimental means and suggest a protocol for its observation.     

Dynamical control of macroscopic quantum tunneling

We show that the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects are realizable for macroscopic quantum tunneling by current-bias modulation in Josephson junctions (and their analogs in atomic condensates).     

Nonlinear dynamic phenomena in macroscopic tunneling

Numerical simulations of the NLSE (or GPE) are presented demonstrating emission of short pulses of the matter (light) density formed in the course of tunneling in wave-guided light and/or trapped BEC. The phenomenon is observed under various conditions, for nonlinearities of different signs, zero nonlinearity included. We study, both numerically and analytically, pulsations of matter (light) remaining within the trap and use the results in order to induce emission of sequential pulses by properly narrowing the trap. This allows us to propose a mechanism for a realization of Atom Pulse Laser.     

Enhancement of macroscopic quantum tunneling by Landau-Zener transitions

Motivated by recent realizations of qubits with a readout by macroscopic quantum tunneling in a Josephson junction, we study the problem of barrier penetration in the presence of coupling to a spin-1 / 2 system. It is shown that, when the diabatic potentials for fixed spin intersect in the barrier region, Landau-Zener transitions lead to an enhancement of the tunneling rate. The effect of these spin flips in imaginary time is in qualitative agreement with experimental observations.     

Metastable state and macroscopic quantum tunneling of binary mixtures

We provide a mixing model to explore the metastable state and the macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) of binary mixtures. For , we first observe the two condensates form the symmetry-breaking state (SBS) and then suddenly transfer to the symmetry-preserving state (SPS) through the MQT. The SBS is shown to be the metastable state in our system. We find the MQT does not spontaneously arise. The inducement mechanism is the damping but not the excitations. The damping mechanism can also control the lifetime and the tunneling decay rate of the SBS. Finally, we further present the origin of these phenomena by examining the energy of the system.     

Quantum tunneling of flux lines in superconductors

We discuss the different regimes which can be expected for quantum creep of flux lines by analysing the experimental results obtained for the relaxation rate as T→0 for Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O₇, Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O₈ and (ET)₂Cu(NCN)₂Br single crystals. We address the dimensionality of the pinned flux line, the possible bundle regime at high fields for the organic superconductor and the relative invariability of the quantum rate upon introduction of columnar defects.     

分子磁体中的量子隧穿及宏观量子效应

文章介绍了分子磁体中的量子隧穿和宏观量子效应理论和实验研究的新进展．分子磁体既有宏观磁体特性也呈现纯量子行为，例如磁化矢量的量子隧穿．文章作者解释了如何通过量子隧穿实现宏观量子相干(即薛定谔猫态的相干叠加)和量子态位相干涉．对隧穿率计算的瞬子方法，特别是有限温度隧穿理论及其在分子磁体量子隧穿中的应用也做了简要的阐述．