 |
 |
Michigan State University Science at the Edge Interdisciplinary Physics October 31, 2014 11:30 a.m. Room1400 Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building Refreshments served at 11:15 a.m. Mark Dykman Department of Physics and Astronomy Fluctuating Nonlinear Oscillators: From Nano-Dynamics to Quantum Superconducting Circuits I will provide a brief overview of mesoscopic vibrational systems, which are currently studied in many areas, from nanomechanics to cavity quantum electrodynamics to Josephson-junction based systems. Besides various applications, mesoscopic oscillators allow one to address a general problem of quantum fluctuations away from thermal equilibrium. These fluctuations display unusual features, which have no analog in equilibrium systems. One of them is the mechanism of switching between coexisting stable periodic states, which we call quantum activation. The scaling behavior of the switching rates will be outlined and a comparison with the experiment will be made. I will also discuss the effect of fragility of the rates of rare events in nonequilibrium systems, which has been found in such diverse problems like population dynamics and nonequilibrium quantum fluctuations. Shawna Prater / Secretary Astrophysics Group Michigan State University 567 Wilson Road, Room 3261 Biomedical Physical Sciences Bldg East Lansing, MI 48824-2320 Ph: (517) 884-5601 Fax (517) 432-8802 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> This e-mail may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please delete it immediately.