Nonequilibrium phase transition in a radiation-driven Josephson junction

Journal Article · Sun Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.23.1977· OSTI ID:6933592

Shenoy, S R; Agarwal, G S

We predict that a nonequilibrium phase transition, analogous to optical bistability, occurs when coherent radiation is applied to an unbiased Josephson junction with an external resistance across it. The order parameter is the self-consistently developed dc voltage, and the drive parameter is the applied radiation intensity. The order parameter exhibits jump and hysteresis behavior characteristic of a first-order phase transition. The size of the hysteresis region can be tuned by varying the resistance. An approach based on the Fokker-Planck equation is adopted. The extremum of the stationary probability yields the self-consistency equation for the mean-field order parameter. Relaxation and decay times are calculated, the decay times being identified with the first passage time. Estimates of parameters show that the bistable regime could be experimentally accessible.

• Research Organization: School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad-500 001, India
• OSTI ID: 6933592
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 23:4; ISSN PRBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

420201* -- Engineering-- Cryogenic Equipment & Devices
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION
HYSTERESIS
JOSEPHSON JUNCTIONS
JUNCTIONS
ORDER PARAMETERS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
STABILITY
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS