Macroscopic quantum tunneling and thermal activation in dc SQUID

✍ Scribed by F. Sharifi; J.L. Gavilano; D.J. Van Harlingen

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 158 KB
• Volume: 153-155
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0921-4534
• DOI: 10.1016/0921-4534(88)90345-0

✦ Synopsis

We have studied the transition rate from the zero-voltage state in a dc SQUID as a function of applied flux and temperature. We observe a crossover from thermal activation to macroscopic quantum tunneling at a flux-dependent temperature. The thermal rates are significantly suppressed, suggesting that the potential barrier for escape is effectively enhanced by the interaction of the macroscopic degrees of freedom in the two-dimensional dc SQUID potential.