Atomic zitterbewegung

M. Merkl; F. E. Zimmer; G. Juzeliunas; Patrik Ohberg

doi:10.1209/0295-5075/83/54002

Atomic zitterbewegung

M. Merkl, F. E. Zimmer, G. Juzeliunas, Patrik Ohberg

School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

58 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ultracold atoms which are subject to ultra-relativistic dynamics are investigated. By using optically induced gauge potentials we show that the dynamics of the atoms is governed by a Dirac-type equation. To illustrate this we study the trembling motion of the centre of mass for an effective two-level system, historically called Zitterbewegung. Its origin is described in detail, where in particular the role of the finite width of the atomic wave packets is seen to induce a damping of both the centre of mass dynamics and the dynamics of the populations of the two levels. © Europhysics Letters Association.

Original language	English
Article number	54002
Journal	Europhysics Letters
Volume	83
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/83/54002
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2008

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title = "Atomic zitterbewegung",

abstract = "Ultracold atoms which are subject to ultra-relativistic dynamics are investigated. By using optically induced gauge potentials we show that the dynamics of the atoms is governed by a Dirac-type equation. To illustrate this we study the trembling motion of the centre of mass for an effective two-level system, historically called Zitterbewegung. Its origin is described in detail, where in particular the role of the finite width of the atomic wave packets is seen to induce a damping of both the centre of mass dynamics and the dynamics of the populations of the two levels. {\textcopyright} Europhysics Letters Association.",

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N2 - Ultracold atoms which are subject to ultra-relativistic dynamics are investigated. By using optically induced gauge potentials we show that the dynamics of the atoms is governed by a Dirac-type equation. To illustrate this we study the trembling motion of the centre of mass for an effective two-level system, historically called Zitterbewegung. Its origin is described in detail, where in particular the role of the finite width of the atomic wave packets is seen to induce a damping of both the centre of mass dynamics and the dynamics of the populations of the two levels. © Europhysics Letters Association.

AB - Ultracold atoms which are subject to ultra-relativistic dynamics are investigated. By using optically induced gauge potentials we show that the dynamics of the atoms is governed by a Dirac-type equation. To illustrate this we study the trembling motion of the centre of mass for an effective two-level system, historically called Zitterbewegung. Its origin is described in detail, where in particular the role of the finite width of the atomic wave packets is seen to induce a damping of both the centre of mass dynamics and the dynamics of the populations of the two levels. © Europhysics Letters Association.

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VL - 83

JO - Europhysics Letters

JF - Europhysics Letters

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Atomic zitterbewegung

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