Macroscopic quantum tunneling in a d-wave high-Tc superconductor

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates macroscopic quantum tunneling in intrinsic Josephson junctions of a high-Tc d-wave superconductor, highlighting its potential for quantum technology applications despite the presence of quasiparticle excitations.

Contribution

First experimental demonstration of macroscopic quantum tunneling in intrinsic Josephson junctions of a high-temperature d-wave superconductor.

Findings

High classic-to-quantum crossover temperature

Weak quasiparticle dissipation

Feasibility for quantum technology applications

Abstract

There is a wide recognition that Josephson-junction-like structures intrinsic to the layered cuprate high temperature superconductors offer an attractive stage for exploiting possible applications to new quantum technologies. On the other hand the low energy quasiparticle excitations characteristically present in these d-wave superconductors may easily destruct the coherence required. Here we demonstrate for the first time the feasibility of macroscopic quantum tunneling in the intrinsic Josephson junctions of a high temperature superconductor, and find it to be characterized by a high classic-to-quantum crossover temperature and a relatively weak quasiparticle dissipation.