Abstract
A microscopic approach to the theory of small, current-biased tunnel junctions is developed. This approach yields a natural account of the “secondary” quantization of both the single-electron (quasiparticle) and Cooper-pair (Josephson) current components. The theory shows that the current of the single electrons is blocked by their Coulomb interaction at low temperatures within a considerable range of the junction voltage. As a result of the blockade, coherent oscillations of the voltage can arise even in the absence of Josephson coupling, e.g., for single-electron tunneling (SET) between normal metal electrodes. The most significant features of these “SET” oscillations and their coexistence with Bloch oscillations in Josephson junctions are studied in detail. Prospects of experimental verification of the predicted effects and of their possible applications are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. I. Larkin, K. K. Likharev, and Yu. N. Ovchinnikov,Physica 126B + C, 414 (1984).
K. K. Likharev and A. B. Zorin, Preprint 7/1984, Department of Physics, Moscow State University (1984); inProceedings of the 17th International Conference on Low Temperature Physics, U. Eckern, A. Schmid, W. Weber, and H. Wühl, eds. (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1984), p. 1153;IEEE Trans. Magn. 21, 943 (1985).
D. V. Averin, A. B. Zorin, and K. K. Likharev,Zh. Teor. Eksp. Fiz. 88, 697 (1985) [Sov. Phys. JETP, to be published].
K. K. Likharev and A. B. Zorin,J. Low Temp. Phys. 59, 347 (1985).
K. K. Likharev,Dynamics of Josephson Junctions and Circuits (Gordon and Breach, New York, 1985).
D. V. Averin and K. K. Likharev, Preprint 23/1985, Department of Physics, Moscow State University (1985); in:SQUID '85, H.-D. Hahlbohm and H. Lübbig, eds. (W. de Gruyter, Berlin, to be published).
E. Ben-Jacob and Y. Gefen,Phys. Lett. 108A, 289 (1985).
P. W. Anderson, inLectures on the Many-Body Problem, E. R. Caianiello, ed. (Academic Press, New York, 1964), Vol. 2, p. 113.
M. H. Cohen, L. M. Falicov, and J. C. Phillips,Phys. Rev. Lett. 8, 316 (1962).
K. K. Likharev,Rev. Mod. Phys. 51, 101 (1979).
N. R. Werthamer,Phys. Rev. 147, 255 (1966).
A. I. Larkin and Yu. N. Ovchinnikov,Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. 51, 1535 (1966) [Sov. Phys. JETP 24, 1035 (1967)].
A. I. Larkin and Yu. N. Ovchinnikov,Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. 53, 2159 (1967) [Sov. Phys. JETP 26, 1219 (1968)].
D. Rogovin and D. J. Scalapino,Ann. Phys. 86, 1 (1974).
H. B. Callen and T. E. Welton,Phys. Rev. 83, 34 (1951).
U. K. Poulsen,Rev. Phys. Appl. 9, 41 (1974).
A. Schmid,Phys. Rev. Lett. 51, 1506 (1983).
R. L. Stratonovich,Selected Topics in the Theory of Random Noise (Gordon and Breach, New York, 1967).
J. Lambe and S. L. McCarthy,Phys. Rev. Lett. 37, 923 (1976).
D. Hone, B. Mühlschlegel, and D. J. Scalapino,Appl. Phys. Lett. 33, 203 (1978).
W. D. Gregory, L. Leopold, D. Repici, and J. Bostock,Phys. Lett. 29A, 13;30A, 507 (1969).
A. A. Fife and S. Gygax,Appl. Phys. Lett. 20, 152 (1972);Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 17, 23 (1972).
R. E. Harris,Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 17, 45 (1972).
T.-L. Ho,Phys. Rev. Lett. 51, 2060 (1983).
E. Ben-Jacob, E. Motolla, and G. Schön,Phys. Rev. Lett. 51, 2064 (1983).
I. Giaever and H. R. Zeller,Phys. Rev. Lett. 20, 1504 (1968).
H. R. Zeller and I. Giaever,Phys. Rev. 181, 789 (1969).
J. Lambe and R. C. Jaklevic,Phys. Rev. Lett. 22, 1371 (1969).
I. O. Kulik and R. I. Shekhter,Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. 68, 623 (1975); [Sov. Phys. JETP,41 (1976)].
M. A. Lampert and P. Mark,Current Injection in Solids (Academic Press, New York, 1970).
B. Ricco' and M. Ya. Asbel,Phys. Rev. B,29, 1970 (1984).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Averin, D.V., Likharev, K.K. Coulomb blockade of single-electron tunneling, and coherent oscillations in small tunnel junctions. J Low Temp Phys 62, 345–373 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00683469
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00683469