Quantum behavior of the Duffing oscillator at the dissipative phase transition.

ABSTRACT: The non-deterministic behavior of the Duffing oscillator is classically attributed to the coexistence of two steady states in a double-well potential. However, this interpretation fails in the quantum-mechanical perspective which predicts a single unique steady state. Here, we measure the non-equilibrium dynamics of a superconducting Duffing oscillator and experimentally reconcile the classical and quantum descriptions as indicated by the Liouvillian spectral theory. We demonstrate that the two classically regarded steady states are in fact quantum metastable states. They have a remarkably long lifetime but must eventually relax into the single unique steady state allowed by quantum mechanics. By engineering their lifetime, we observe a first-order dissipative phase transition and reveal t

SUBMITTER: Chen QM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10199948 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature