Optical simulation of the free Dirac equation
arXiv:1902.04012 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.99.022332
Abstract
We present a classical optics simulation of the one-dimensional Dirac equation for a free particle. Positive and negative energy components are represented by orthogonal polarizations of a free propagating beam, while the spatial profile represents the spatial wave function of the particle. Using a completely tunable time parameter, we observed the oscillation of the average value of the Dirac position operator - known as zitterbewegung (ZB). We are also able to measure the so called mean-position operator which is a single-particle observable and presents no oscillations. Our work opens the way for optical simulation of interesting phenomenon of relativistic systems, as well as condensed-matter physics, without any requirement for specially engineered medium.
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Cited by in corpus (7)
- Zitterbewegung of moiré excitons in twisted MoS/WSe hetero-bilayers
- Universal semiclassical equations based on the quantum metric
- Effect of zitterbewegung on the propagation of wave packets in ABC-stacked multilayer graphene: an analytical and computational approach
- Valley-driven Zitterbewegung in Kekulé-distorted graphene
- Revealing inherent quantum interference and entanglement of a Dirac particle
- Localization POVMs and intrinsic temporal uncertainty
- Link of the Zitterbewegung with the spin conductivity and the spin-textures of multiband systems