Chaos in Dirac Electron Optics: Emergence of a Relativistic Quantum Chimera

Hong-Ya Xu, Guang-Lei Wang, Liang Huang, and Ying-Cheng Lai
Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 124101 – Published 23 March 2018
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Abstract

We uncover a remarkable quantum scattering phenomenon in two-dimensional Dirac material systems where the manifestations of both classically integrable and chaotic dynamics emerge simultaneously and are electrically controllable. The distinct relativistic quantum fingerprints associated with different electron spin states are due to a physical mechanism analogous to a chiroptical effect in the presence of degeneracy breaking. The phenomenon mimics a chimera state in classical complex dynamical systems but here in a relativistic quantum setting—henceforth the term “Dirac quantum chimera,” associated with which are physical phenomena with potentially significant applications such as enhancement of spin polarization, unusual coexisting quasibound states for distinct spin configurations, and spin selective caustics. Experimental observations of these phenomena are possible through, e.g., optical realizations of ballistic Dirac fermion systems.

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  • Received 2 January 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.124101

© 2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Nonlinear Dynamics

Authors & Affiliations

Hong-Ya Xu1, Guang-Lei Wang1, Liang Huang2, and Ying-Cheng Lai1,*

  • 1School of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-5706, USA
  • 2School of Physical Science and Technology, and Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of MOE, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China

  • *Ying-Cheng.Lai@asu.edu

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Issue

Vol. 120, Iss. 12 — 23 March 2018

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