Suppression of switching errors in weakly damped Josephson junctions

Abstract

The task of the Josephson junction switching is numerically solved in the framework of the classical RCSJ model with white Gaussian noise. In order to switch the junction to the resistive state a periodic supra-threshold signal is applied. The operational mode is similar to the single photon counter proposed earlier. Here we consider a purely classical situation in order to find out how far the typical aluminium Josephson junction is from the single photon operational mode. We have found that for the considered parameters, if the switching happens due to external periodic signal, it occurs mostly during the first two periods of driving, and the number of photons, needed for switching, is more than one hundred. Also we observe the double minima of the mean switching time and the standard deviation versus the driving frequency. This determines the parameter range, optimal for reliable switching, which can be used as a guidance in quasi-classical and quantum approaches.