title: Classical simulation of relativistic Zitterbewegung in photonic lattices.
abstract: We present the first experimental realization of an optical analog for relativistic quantum mechanics by simulating the Zitterbewegung (trembling motion) of a free Dirac electron in an optical superlattice. Our photonic setting enables a direct visualization of Zitterbewegung as a spatial oscillatory motion of an optical beam. Direct measurements of the wave packet expectation values in superlattices with tuned miniband gaps clearly show the transition from weak-relativistic to relativistic and far-relativistic regimes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dreisow
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keil
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tünnermann
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Longhi
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szameit