Thermal activation and macroscopic quantum phenomena in superconducting devices
Sharifi, Fred
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/23850
Description
Title
Thermal activation and macroscopic quantum phenomena in superconducting devices
Author(s)
Sharifi, Fred
Issue Date
1989
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Van Harlingen, Dale J.
Department of Study
Physics, Condensed Matter
Discipline
Physics, Condensed Matter
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Physics, Condensed Matter
Language
eng
Abstract
This thesis is a study of escape from metastable wells in one and two dimensional potentials of superconducting devices. We have measured escape rates due to both thermal activation over the barrier and macroscopic quantum tunneling through the barrier. The measurements were performed for a variety of device parameters, corresponding to different shapes of the potential barrier. We find strong evidence for macroscopic quantum tunneling in both one and two dimensional systems with an escape rate that is very sensitive to the dissipation present in the system. Surprisingly, we have also found a discrepancy between our results and the predictions of Kramers' thermal activation model in certain types of potentials.
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