Zitterbewegung of optical pulses near the Dirac point inside a negative-zero-positive index metamaterial
Open accessAbstract
By numerically solving Maxwell's equation with boundary conditions, we have demonstrated the optical Zitterbewegung effect by means of electromagnetic pulses propagating through a negative-zero-positive index metamaterial (NZPIM). We find that a finite pulse with frequencies near the Dirac point of the NZPIM diffuses and oscillates, and its output pulse from the finite NZPIM slab becomes an oscillating pulse with a characteristic frequency independent of the slab thickness. We further find that the oscillating properties of the optical Zitterbewegung effect are strongly dependent on the pulse parameters: such as pulse duration and pulse transverse spatial width. The physical nature of such oscillation effects is due to the interference between the upper and lower high-transmittance passbands at both sides of the Dirac point of the NZPIM slab, which is similar to the Zitterbewegung of electron wave packets.
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ZB is not unique to Dirac electrons; it is a generic feature of wave packet dynamics in spinor systems with certain linear dispersion relations, such as those exhibiting Dirac points.
“However, several authors have recently shown that ZB is not unique to Dirac electrons, rather it is a generic feature of wave packet dynamics in spinor systems with certain linear dispersion relations, such as those exhibiting the so-called Dirac points (DP) that describe massless fermions [3-13].”
From Photonic analog of Zitterbewegung in binary waveguide arrays (2010) · cites this paper as [12]
Dreisow et al., following the suggestion of Longhi, realized an optical binary waveguide system which was shown to have for photons the relativistic-like dispersion E(k) = √(σ^2 + κ^2 k^2).
“Dreisow et al. [23], following the suggestion of Longhi [88], realized lately an optical binary waveguide system which was shown to have for photons the relativistic-like dispersion E ( k ) = √ σ 2 + κ 2 k 2 .”
From Zitterbewegung (trembling motion) of electrons in semiconductors: a review (2011) · cites this paper as [88]
The passages on optical analogues and the Dirac point (section labelled Abstract; page unavailable) discuss photonic crystals and a negative-zero-positive-index metamaterial, not Dreisow’s binary waveguide experiment. Searches for Dreisow, Longhi, binary waveguides, and the stated dispersion relation found no passage addressing that claim. (LLM, conf=0.77)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredNon-Hermitian Hamiltonians are often found in reduced descriptions of open Hermitian quantum systems, with applications to atomic, molecular and condensed-matter physics.
“Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians are also very often found in reduced descriptions of open Hermitian quantum systems, with important applications to atomic, molecular and condensed-matter physics [89].”
From Classical simulation of relativistic quantum mechanics in periodic optical structures (2011) · cites this paper as [89]
The paper’s passages on optical pulses near a Dirac point and its discussion of Zitterbewegung in other physical systems do not address non-Hermitian Hamiltonians as reduced descriptions of open Hermitian quantum systems. Searches for that formulation and for the claimed atomic, molecular, and condensed-matter applications found no supporting passage in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)
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References 31 · Cited by 48
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [9]9. Ketterson J. B. and Song S. N., Supercon- ductivity (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK) 1999.
- [29]29. Pendry J. B., Holden A. J., Robbins D. J. and Stewart W. J., IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., 47 (1999) 2075.
- Authors
- Wang, L.-G., Wang, Z.-G., & Zhu, S.-Y.
- Affiliations
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Hong Kong Baptist University (HK)
- ORCID
- Wang, Li-Gang
- Venue
- EPL (Europhysics Letters)
- Publisher
- IOP Publishing
- Published
- 2009-05-01
- Volume
- 86
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 47008
- ISSN
- 0295-5075 (ISSN-L)
- 1286-4854
- OpenAlex
- W2026801623
- Semantic Scholar
- 2db2b0e2be845e7e74e9d8f4bdb13c8089df9b17
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Europhysics Letters (EPL) (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Hong Kong Baptist University
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (10604047)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (2060360)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials › Metamaterials and Metasurfaces Applications
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Topological Materials and Phenomena
- Keywords
- Dirac point, electromagnetic pulse propagation, pulse oscillation, metamaterial slabs, pulse duration dependence
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