Stimulated quantum phase slips from weak electromagnetic radiations in superconducting nanowires

TL;DR

This paper investigates how weak electromagnetic radiation can significantly enhance quantum phase slips in ultranarrow superconducting nanowires, suggesting potential applications in radiation detection.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of stimulated quantum phase slips induced by weak electromagnetic radiation in superconducting nanowires near the transition point.

Findings

Radiation stimulates increased quantum phase slip rates.

Enhancement is significant in the dirty limit near the transition.

Potential for developing new microwave to submillimetre radiation detectors.

Abstract

We study the rate of quantum phase slips in an ultranarrow superconducting nanowire exposed to weak electromagnetic radiations. The superconductor is in the dirty limit close to the superconducting-insulating transition, where fluxoids move in strong dissipation. We use a semiclassical approach and show that external radiation stimulates a significant enhancement in the probability of quantum phase slips. This can help to outline a new type of detector for microwave to submillimetre radiations based on stimulated quantum phase slip phenomenon.