Thermal Activation above a Dissipation Barrier: Switching of a Small Josephson Junction

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.77.3435· OSTI ID:388398

Vion, D; Goetz, M; Joyez, P; Esteve, D; Devoret, M H ^[1]

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1. Service de Physique de l`Etat Condense, CEA-Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette (France)

An unshunted Josephson tunnel junction switching out of its zero-voltage state is a model system for thermal activation out of a metastable state. For small-capacitance low-critical-current junctions, this thermal activation process follows a generalized Arrhenius law involving dissipation directly in its exponent. This escape over a dissipation barrier can be computed exactly for a junction connected to a {ital RC} impedance providing large damping. The diffusion branch and the switching histograms measured for such a junction are in agreement with theory. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

• OSTI ID: 388398
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 16 Vol. 77; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
ACTIVATION ENERGY
ALUMINIUM
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
ARRHENIUS EQUATION
CRITICAL CURRENT
DISSIPATION FACTOR
DYNAMICS
JOSEPHSON JUNCTIONS
METASTABLE STATES