Theory of macroscopic quantum tunnelling and dissipation in high-Tc Josephson junctions

We have investigated macroscopic quantum tunnelling (MQT) in in-plane high-Tc superconductor Josephson junctions and the influence of the nodal-quasiparticle and zero energy bound states (ZES) on MQT. We have shown that the presence of ZES at the interface between the insulator and the superconductor leads to strong Ohmic quasiparticle dissipation. Therefore, the MQT rate is noticeably suppressed in comparison with c-axis junctions in which ZES are completely absent