Dynamical mass of a quantum vortex in a Josephson junction array

U. Eckern; G. Luciano; A. Tagliacozzo

doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.56.14686

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Dynamical mass of a quantum vortex in a Josephson junction array

U. Eckern, G. Luciano, A. Tagliacozzo

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevB.56.14686 · Physical Review B

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Abstract

The real-time response to a small external perturbation of a vortex in a quantum Josephson junction array, with long-range Coulomb interaction between Cooper pairs, is analyzed. While the static damping is zero for vortex velocities below some threshold value vth (which implies the possibility of ballistic motion), a dynamical friction due to the coupling to the plasma oscillations is always present for frequencies higher than a given threshold ωth. The latter approaches zero when the velocity increases to vth. However, radiative dissipation of the vortex affects the threshold for ballistic motion. We discuss the conditions under which a mass can be defined for the vortex as a quantum particle.