Macroscopic quantum effect in intrinsic Josephson junctions containing magnetic flux

Abstract

We formulate a quantum theory that can describe the macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) in intrinsic Josephson junction stacks. Both capacitive and inductive couplings between junctions in the stacks are considered. It is shown that the inductive coupling renormalizes the height of the potential barrier, while the capacitive coupling causes mass renormalization, when the switching event in the I–V characteristics is mapped onto the problem of a quasi-classical particle showing MQT. Both couplings enhance the MQT rate.