Ground-state cooling of a suspended nanowire through inelastic macroscopic quantum tunneling in a current-biased Josephson junction

We demonstrate that a suspended nanowire forming a weak link between two superconductors can be cooled to its motional ground state by a supercurrent flow. The predicted cooling mechanism has its origins in magnetic field induced inelastic tunneling of the macroscopic superconducting phase associated with the junction. Furthermore, we show that the voltage drop over the junction is proportional to the average population of the vibrational modes in the stationary regime, a phenomenon which can be used to probe the level of cooling.     

Observation of macroscopic quantum tunneling in a single Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta surface intrinsic Josephson junction

We report on the first unambiguous observation of macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) in a single submicron Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+delta) surface intrinsic Josephson junction (IJJ) by measuring its temperature-dependent switching current distribution. All relevant junction parameters were determined in situ in the classical regime and were used to predict the behavior of the IJJ in the quantum regime via MQT theory. Experimental results agree quantitatively with the theoretical predictions, thus confirming the MQT picture. Furthermore, the data also indicate that the surface IJJ, where the current flows along the c axis of the crystal, has the conventional sinphi current-phase relationship.     

The Josephson junction as a macroscopic radiating atom

We investigate the electrodynamic properties of a Josephson junction emitting coherent radiation and establish that it can be regarded as a two-level atom within the framework of the microscopic theory of superconductivity.     

Josephson junction with a magnetic-field tunable ground state

We consider an asymmetric 0-π Josephson junction consisting of 0 and π regions of different lengths L(0) and L(π). As predicted earlier this system can be described by an effective sine-Gordon equation for the spatially averaged phase ψ so that the effective current-phase relation of this system includes a negative second harmonic ∝sin(2ψ). If its amplitude is large enough, the ground state of the junction is doubly degenerate ψ=±φ, where φ depends on the amplitudes of the first and second harmonics. We study the behavior of such a junction in an applied magnetic field H and demonstrate that H induces an additional term ∝Hcosψ in the effective current-phase relation. This results in a nontrivial ground state tunable by magnetic field. The dependence of the critical current on H allows for revealing the ground state experimentally.     

Effects of junction parameters on the resonant macroscopic quantum tunnelling in small Josephson junctions

Summary Within the well-established quantum picture of a Josephson junction, it has been shown that the possibility of a resonant macroscopic quantum tunnelling can produce sharp voltage peaks in the current-voltage characteristics. We investigate the effects of the junction parametrs and bias conditions on the step amplitude, in view of an experimental check of the proposed phenomenon.     

Light-modulated electron retroreflection and Klein tunneling in a graphene-based n-p-n junction

We investigate the electron retroreflection and the Klein tunneling across a graphene-based n-p-n junction irradiated by linearly polarized off-resonant light with the polarization along the x direction. The linearly polarized off-resonant light modifies the band structure of graphene, which leads to the anisotropy of band structure. By adjusting the linearly polarized light and the direction of n-p-n junction simultaneously, the electron retroreflection appears and the anomalous Klein tunneling, the perfect transmission at a nonzero incident angle regardless of the width and height of potential barrier, happens, which arises from the fact that the light-induced anisotropic band structure changes the relation of wavevector and velocity of electron. Our finding provides an alternative and flexible method to modulate electron retroreflection and Klein tunneling.     

Josephson tunneling in bilayer quantum Hall system

A Bose–Einstein condensation is formed by composite bosons in the quantum Hall state. A composite boson carries the fundamental charge (−e  ). We investigate Josephson tunneling of such charges in the bilayer quantum Hall system at the total filling ν=1$\nu =1$. We show the existence of the critical current for the tunneling current to be coherent and dissipationless. Our results explain recent experiments due to [L. Tiemann, Y. Yoon, W. Dietsche, K. von Klitzing, W. Wegscheider, Phys. Rev. B 80 (2009) 165120] and due to [Y. Yoon, L. Tiemann, S. Schmult, W. Dietsche, K. von Klitzing, Phys. Rev. Lett. 104 (2010) 116802]. We predict also how the critical current changes as the sample is tilted in the magnetic field.     

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).     

Experiments on macroscopic quantum tunnelling in Josephson structures: Influence of the uncertainty of junction parameters

Summary Some of the most interesting experiments on MQT, based on the Josephson effect, are considered in order to understand whether a definite experimental proof of the phenomenon exists. We have investigated the effects of some spurious situations related to the uncertainty on the determination of the relevant junction parameters, which can simulate the same effects of MQT. As a result we have seen that probably all the experimental data cannot be completely interpreted within the classical framework. However some ambiguities remain particularly for what concerns the implications of dissipation in the phenomenon.     

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)     

Deconfinement and dissipation in quantum Hall Josephson tunneling

The zero-bias tunneling resonance in quantum Hall bilayer systems is investigated via numerical simulations of the classical two-dimensional XY model with a symmetry-breaking field. Disorder is included in the model and is shown to nucleate strings of overturned spins proliferated through the system, with unpaired vortices and antivortices at their end points. This string glass state supports low-energy excitations which lead to anomalously large dissipation in tunneling, as observed in experiment. The effect of an in-plane magnetic field is discussed.     

Macroscopic quantum tunneling in differently loaded Josephson junctions

In relation to the problem of quantum measurement, macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) in Josephson junctions is one of the most investigated topics. Although many theoretical studies have been devoted to this argument, the agreement on a single theoretical model has not yet been reached. The purpose of the present work is to analyze the load “seen” by the junction, in order to evaluate the contribution of the dissipation that modifies the decay-rate of the metastable state of the junction. The present work reports some theoretical results in relation to different kinds of loading systems, namely, the cases of capacitive, inductive and purely resistive load. The resistive load is considered also in relation to an experimental test.     

Aspects of macroscopic quantum tunnelling in small Josephson junctions

Summary We study the effect of temperature on the lifetime of the resonant macroscopic quantum tunnelling voltage state. In view of experiments we consider a merit factor in order to balance between measuring extremely small signals of longer duration or larger signals of shorter duration.     

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.