Quantum kinetics of a superconducting tunnel junction: Theory and comparison with experiment

Kenneth S. Chow; Dana A. Browne; Vinay Ambegaokar

doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.37.1624

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Quantum kinetics of a superconducting tunnel junction: Theory and comparison with experiment

Kenneth S. Chow, Dana A. Browne, Vinay Ambegaokar

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevB.37.1624 · Physical Review B

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Abstract

We develop a kinetic theory for the real-time response of a quantum particle interacting with a macroscopic reservoir. We discuss the equilibrium and long-time behavior of the solution of the kinetic equation for such a system. In the limit of low damping, the kinetic equation reduces to a master equation. Using the theory to model a Josephson junction loaded with an external impedance, we make contact with the experiments of Clark, Devoret, Esteve, and Martinis. We argue that a stationary solution of the master equation sufficiently describes the experiments, and make detailed comparison with data.