Effects of nonlinear dissipation on the supercurrent decay of a Josephson junction

Journal Article · Sun Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Applied Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.346796· OSTI ID:6692745

Silvestrini, P ^[1]

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1. Instituto di Cibernetica del C.N.R., 80072 Arco Felice, Napoli (Italy)

The thermal-induced escape out of the zero-voltage state of a Josephson junction is discussed removing the main assumption of the resistively shunted junction model. This model assumes that the junction dissipation is dominated by a linear ohmic shunt resistor. However, the presence of quasiparticles excitations produces dissipation in the junction through nonlinear mechanisms. As a consequence, the dynamical resistance is strongly voltage dependent. In the present work, we study the effect of this voltage-dependent dissipation on the supercurrent decay in connection with the general problem of a Brownian particle in a metastable state in the presence of a velocity-dependent friction coefficient. An analytical expression for the lifetime of the metastable state is obtained, providing an answer to the open question of what resistance dominates the junction damping. A comparison of the theory with experimental results is also presented.

• OSTI ID: 6692745
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA) Vol. 68:2; ISSN 0021-8979; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

656100* -- Condensed Matter Physics-- Superconductivity
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
COLLECTIVE EXCITATIONS
CURRENTS
DECAY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
EXCITED STATES
JOSEPHSON JUNCTIONS
JUNCTIONS
METASTABLE STATES
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUASI PARTICLES
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS