Decay of a Dissipative Object by Quantum Noise
Ulrich Eckern, Walter Lehr
The decay time, τ, of a dissipative object out of the metastable minimum of a (cubic) potential due to quantum noise is determined by a numerical investigation of the quasiclassical Langevin equation. In the zero temperature limit, and for moderate to large damping (γ\gtrsimω o ), we find that σ=ln (ω o τ/2π) can be approximated by a σ≃κ·γΔV/\hbarω o 2 where the constant κ is κ≃3.20. This is in good agreement with an analytic treatment of the Langevin equation, but about a factor three smaller than the result obtained by Caldeira and Leggett by the instanton method.
Japanese Journal of Applied Physics•Jan 1, 1987•5 citations