Direct observation of zitterbewegung in a Bose-Einstein condensate

被引：158

作者：

LeBlanc, L. J. ^{[1
,2
]}

Beeler, M. C. ^{[1
,2
]}

Jimenez-Garcia, K. ^{[1
,2
,3
]}

Perry, A. R. ^{[1
,2
]}

Sugawa, S. ^{[1
,2
]}

Williams, R. A. ^{[1
,2
,4
]}

Spielman, I. B. ^{[1
,2
]}

机构：

[1] NIST, Joint Quantum Inst, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA

[2] Univ Maryland, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA

[3] Inst Politecn Nacl, Ctr Invest & Estudios Avanzados, Dept Fis, Mexico City, DF 07360, Mexico

[4] Natl Phys Lab, Teddington, Middx TW11 0LW, England

来源：

NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS | 2013年 / 15卷

基金：

美国国家科学基金会;

关键词：

Quantum chemistry - Bose-Einstein condensation - Linear equations - Relativity;

D O I：

10.1088/1367-2630/15/7/073011

中图分类号：

O4 [物理学];

学科分类号：

0702 ;

摘要：

Zitterbewegung, a force-free trembling motion first predicted for relativistic fermions like electrons, was an unexpected consequence of the Dirac equation's unification of quantum mechanics and special relativity. Though the oscillatory motion's large frequency and small amplitude have precluded its measurement with electrons, zitterbewegung is observable via quantum simulation. We engineered an environment for Rb-87 Bose-Einstein condensates where the constituent atoms behaved like relativistic particles subject to the one-dimensional Dirac equation. With direct imaging, we observed the sub-micrometre trembling motion of these clouds, demonstrating the utility of neutral ultracold quantum gases for simulating Dirac particles.

引用

页数：11

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