Coulomb blockade of single-electron tunneling, and coherent oscillations in small tunnel junctions

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00683469· OSTI ID:5956636

Averin, D V; Likharev, K K

A microscopic approach to the theory of small, current-biased tunnel junctions is developed. This approach yields a natural account of the ''secondary'' quantization of both the single-electron (quasiparticle) and Cooper-pair (Josephson) current components. The theory shows that the current of the single electrons is blocked by their Coulomb interaction at low temperatures within a considerable range of the junction voltage. As a result of the blockade, coherent oscillations of the voltage can arise even in the absence of Josephson coupling, e. g., for single-electron tunneling (SET) between normal metal electrodes. The most significant features of these ''SET'' oscillations and their coexistence with Bloch oscillations in Josephson junctions are studied in detail. Prospects of experimental verification of the predicted effects and of their possible applications are discussed.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow USSR
• OSTI ID: 5956636
• Journal Information: J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 62:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
JOSEPHSON JUNCTIONS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
COULOMB SCATTERING
DENSITY MATRIX
OSCILLATIONS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
INTERACTIONS
JUNCTIONS
MATRICES
SCATTERING
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
656102* - Solid State Physics- Superconductivity- Acoustic
Electronic
Magnetic
Optical
& Thermal Phenomena- (-1987)