Resonant Activation of a Current-Biased Josephson Junction Near the Classical-Quantum Crossover

Abstract

We examine the resonant activation of a current-biased Josephson junction near the crossover temperature in order to show the way in which the device transitions from the classical regime to the quantum regime. We use microwaves to probe the quantum energy states that exist in the potential well. The quantum features are visible until the junction is heated up to the crossover temperature, at which point the line widths of the energy levels overlap and become indistinguishable from one another. When well above this temperature, the junction behaves classically when resonantly activated with microwaves.