Quantum dynamics of a vortex in a Josephson junction

Abstract

We investigate the tunneling character of vortex in an asymmetrical potential well with a finite barrier by using the periodic instanton method. We obtain the total decay rate which is valid for the entire range of temperature and show how it reduces to the appropriate results for the classical thermal activation at high temperatures, the thermally assisted tunneling at intermediate temperatures, and the pure quantum tunneling at low temperature. We can even give the exact definition of the ``crossover'' temperature and find experimental data to support our theoretical analysis.