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arXiv · cond-mat/0702480

Macroscopic quantum tunneling and quasiparticle-tunneling blockade effect in s-wave/d-wave hybrid junctions

Abstract

We have theoretically investigated macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) and the influence of nodal quasiparticles and zero energy bound states (ZES) on MQT in s-wave/ d-wave hybrid Josephson junctions. In contrast to d-wave/d-wave junctions, the low-energy quasiparticle dissipation resulting from nodal quasiparticles and ZES is suppressed due to a quasiparticle-tunneling blockade effect in an isotropic s-wave superconductor. Therefore, the inherent dissipation in these junctions is found to be very weak. We have also investigated MQT in a realistic s-wave/d-wave (Nb/Au/YBCO) junction in which Ohmic dissipation in a shunt resistance is stronger than the inherent dissipation and find that MQT is observable within the current experimental technology. This result suggests high potential of s-wave/d-wave hybrid junctions for applications in quantum information devices.

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BibTeXRIS

S. Kawabata, A. A. Golubov, Ariando, C. J. M. Verwijs, H. Hilgenkamp, J. R. Kirtley. 2009-11-17. Macroscopic quantum tunneling and quasiparticle-tunneling blockade effect in s-wave/d-wave hybrid junctions. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.76.064505

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