Zener transitions in dissipative driven systems

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Abstract
The effect of inelastic interactions on Zener transitions is studied in the context of externally driven systems (flux-driven normal metallic rings, current-biased tunnel junctions, etc.). We employ a time-dependent Hamiltonian and use a two-level approximation to study these systems. We consider a coupling (not necessarily weak) of the system to a phonon bath and allow for a large class of phonon spectra. The coupling tends to reduce the Zener tunneling. The Zener transitions are enhanced at finite temperatures. We also consider the effect of a phenomenological relaxation time τ on the behavior of the system, and express the (nonlinear) resistance R in terms of τ and the other important physical parameters. When the bias goes to zero, R vanishes.