Quantum fluctuations and charging effects in small tunnel junctions

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.43.7586· OSTI ID:5557730

Flensberg, K ^[1]; Jonson, M ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1501 (USA) Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 38731-6024 (USA)
2. Department of Physics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1501 (USA) Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 38731-6024 (USA) Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, S-412 96 Goeteborg, (Sweden)

The finite voltage conductance of an ultrasmall single tunnel junction of nominal resistance {ital R}{sub 0} is calculated within a model that includes quantum voltage fluctuations. Fluctuations are induced by charge transfer across the junction as well as by coupling to its electromagnetic environment via a transmission line of arbitrary impedance {ital Z}({omega}). Both types of quantum fluctuations suppress the Coulomb blockade. Within a harmonic approximation we show that for a general frequency-dependent transmission-line impedance the impedances simply add in parallel. The low-frequency fluctuations are given by an effective coupling constant {gamma}{sub tot}={ital R}{sub {ital H}}/2{ital Z}{sub tot}, where {ital Z}{sub tot}{sup {minus}1}={ital Z}(0){sup {minus}1}+{ital R}{sub 0}{sup {minus}1} and {ital R}{sub {ital H}}={ital h}/{ital e}{sup 2} is the quantum of resistance.

• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5557730
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Vol. 43:10; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
42 ENGINEERING
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
FLUCTUATIONS
CAPACITORS
CHARGE EXCHANGE
CHARGE STATE
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
SIMULATION
TUNNEL EFFECT
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
JUNCTIONS
MECHANICS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
VARIATIONS
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