Skip to main content
Log in

Resonant macroscopic quantum tunneling in Josephson junctions

  • Published:
Journal of Superconductivity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many theoretical studies and some experiments have shown the possibility of several new secondary quantum effects in small Josephson junctions at low temperatures. We show that, within the well-established quantum picture of the junction, it is possible to experimentally observe sharp voltalge peaks at certain current values. Such peaks are related to a resonant macroscopic quantum tunneling between levels in neighboring wells of the proper washboard potential having close energies. The proposed experiment, with respect to experiments on Coulomb blockade or Block oscillations, requires a larger junction area, reducing the technological difficulties in making the samples.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. D. Caldeira and A. J. Leggett,Phys. Rev. Lett. 46, 211 (1981); A. D. Caldeira and A. J. Leggett,Ann. Phys. 149, 374 (1983); Antony J. Leggett,Direction in Condensed Matter Physics, Vol. 1, G. Grinstein and G. Mazenko, eds. (World Scientific, Singapore, 1986), p. 187 and references therein.

    Google Scholar 

  2. R. F. Voss and R. A. Webb,Phys. Rev. Lett. 47, 265 (1981); L. D. Jackel, J. P. Gordon, E. L. Hu, R. E. Howard, L. A. Fetter, D. M. Tennant, R. W. Epworth, and J. Kurkijarvi,Phys. Rev. Lett. 47, 697 (1981); S. Washburn, R. F. Voss, R. A. Webb, and S. Faris,Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 2712 (1985); M. H. Devoret, J. M. Martinis, D. Esteve, and J. Clarke,Phys. Rev. Lett. 53, 1260 (1984); M. H. Devoret, J. M. Martinis, and J. Clarke,Phys. Rev. Lett. 55,1908 (1985); J. M. Martinis, M. H. Devoret, and J. Clarke,Phys. Rev. B 35, 4682 (1987); A. N. Cleland, J. M. Martinis, and J. Clarke,Phys. Rev. B 37, 5950 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  3. A. I. Larkin and Yu. N. Ovchinnikov,J. Low Temp. Phys. 63, 317 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  4. A. I. Larkin and Yu. N. Ovchinnikov,Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. 91, 318 (1986) [Sov. Phys. JETP64, 185 (1986)].

    Google Scholar 

  5. K. K. Likharev and A. B. Zorin,Low Temp. Phys. 59, 347 (1985); L. J. Geerligs, M. Peters, L. M. de Groot, A. Verbruggen, and J. E. Mooij,Phys. Rev. Lett. 63, 326 (1989); L. J. Geerligs, V. F. Anderegg, J. Romijn, and J. E. Mooij,Phys. Rev. Lett. 65, 377 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  6. A. I. Larkin and Yu. N. Ovchinnikov,Sov. Phys. JEPT 86, 719 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  7. A. I. Larkin, Yu. N. Ovchinnikov, and A. Schmid,Physica B 152, 266 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ovchinnikov, Y.N., Silvestrini, P., Ruggiero, B. et al. Resonant macroscopic quantum tunneling in Josephson junctions. J Supercond 5, 481–484 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00620508

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00620508

Key words

Navigation