Atomic Zitterbewegung

Understand

Ultra-cold 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.