Charge quantization and detector resolution
Charge quantization, or the absence thereof, is a central theme in quantum circuit theory, with dramatic consequences for the predicted circuit dynamics. Very recently, the question of whether or not charge should actually be described as quantized has enjoyed renewed widespread interest, with ho...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SciPost
2021-04-01
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| Series: | SciPost Physics |
| Online Access: | https://scipost.org/SciPostPhys.10.4.093 |
| _version_ | 1818408635629305856 |
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| author | Roman-Pascal Riwar |
| author_facet | Roman-Pascal Riwar |
| author_sort | Roman-Pascal Riwar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Charge quantization, or the absence thereof, is a central theme in quantum
circuit theory, with dramatic consequences for the predicted circuit dynamics.
Very recently, the question of whether or not charge should actually be
described as quantized has enjoyed renewed widespread interest, with however
seemingly contradictory propositions. Here, we intend to reconcile these
different approaches, by arguing that ultimately, charge quantization is not an
intrinsic system property, but instead depends on the spatial resolution of the
charge detector. We show that the latter can be directly probed by unique
geometric signatures in the correlations of the supercurrent. We illustrate
these findings at the example Josephson junction arrays in the superinductor
regime, where the transported charge appears to be continuous. Finally, we
comment on potential consequences of charge quantization beyond superconducting
circuits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T09:46:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-666bba5187884d80b3221405fe2032b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2542-4653 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T09:46:52Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | SciPost |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SciPost Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-666bba5187884d80b3221405fe2032b02022-12-21T23:07:36ZengSciPostSciPost Physics2542-46532021-04-0110409310.21468/SciPostPhys.10.4.093Charge quantization and detector resolutionRoman-Pascal RiwarCharge quantization, or the absence thereof, is a central theme in quantum circuit theory, with dramatic consequences for the predicted circuit dynamics. Very recently, the question of whether or not charge should actually be described as quantized has enjoyed renewed widespread interest, with however seemingly contradictory propositions. Here, we intend to reconcile these different approaches, by arguing that ultimately, charge quantization is not an intrinsic system property, but instead depends on the spatial resolution of the charge detector. We show that the latter can be directly probed by unique geometric signatures in the correlations of the supercurrent. We illustrate these findings at the example Josephson junction arrays in the superinductor regime, where the transported charge appears to be continuous. Finally, we comment on potential consequences of charge quantization beyond superconducting circuits.https://scipost.org/SciPostPhys.10.4.093 |
| spellingShingle | Roman-Pascal Riwar Charge quantization and detector resolution SciPost Physics |
| title | Charge quantization and detector resolution |
| title_full | Charge quantization and detector resolution |
| title_fullStr | Charge quantization and detector resolution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Charge quantization and detector resolution |
| title_short | Charge quantization and detector resolution |
| title_sort | charge quantization and detector resolution |
| url | https://scipost.org/SciPostPhys.10.4.093 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT romanpascalriwar chargequantizationanddetectorresolution |