Quantum and Classical Fluctuation-Induced Transport

in Superconducting Circuits

Nels Gilbreth '04

Advisor: Dr. Kenneth Segall

 

Ratchet systems, or Brownian motors, utilize random fluctuations in order to gain net work in the form of transport. A ring-array of different sized Josephson junctions is used to study quantum ratchet effects. The theory predicts a change in the bias of the ratchet system as the temperature is cooled through a threshold. At this point thermal fluctuations no longer  redominate over quantum  fluctuations and the object in the ratchet system to reverse its net  transport.