Thermal activation and macroscopic quantum phenomena in superconducting devices

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.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics, Condensed Matter

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Sharifi, Fred

Contributors dc:contributor

• Van Harlingen, Dale J.

• Physics, Condensed Matter

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1989 Sharifi, Fred

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(UMI)AAI9011014
AAI9011014

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/23850