Dynamical tunneling in macroscopic systems

Abstract

We investigate macroscopic dynamical quantum tunneling (MDQT) in the driven Duffing oscillator, charateristic for Josephson junction physics and nanomechanics. Under resonant conditions between stable coexisting states of such systems we calculate the tunneling rate. In macroscopic systems coupled to a heat bath, MDQT can be masked by driving-induced activation. We compare both processes, identify conditions under which tunneling can be detected with present day experimental means and suggest a protocol for its observation.

4 pages, 3 figures

References in corpus (5)

• Switching via quantum activation: A parametrically modulated oscillator
• High-contrast dispersive readout of a superconducting flux qubit using a nonlinear resonator
• Critical exponents in metastable decay via quantum activation
• Dynamics of the quantum Duffing oscillator in the driving induced bistable regime
• Nonlinear resonant behavior of the dispersive readout scheme for a superconducting flux qubit

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Photon generation in an electromagnetic cavity with a time-dependent boundary
• Quantum analysis of a nonlinear microwave cavity-embedded dc SQUID displacement detector
• Weak and strong measurement of a qubit using a switching-based detector
• Rabi-like oscillations of an anharmonic oscillator: classical versus quantum interpretation
• Real photons from vacuum fluctuations in optomechanics: the role of polariton interactions
• Thermally activated switching in the presence of non-Gaussian noise
• Dynamic Quantum Tunneling in Mesoscopic Driven Duffing Oscillators
• Exponential peak and scaling of work fluctuations in modulated systems