Zitterbewegung of Electronic Wave Packets in III-V Zinc-Blende Semiconductor Quantum Wells

John Schliemann, Daniel Loss, and R. M. Westervelt
Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 206801 – Published 23 May 2005

Abstract

We study the zitterbewegung of electronic wave packets in III-V zinc-blende semiconductor quantum wells due to spin-orbit coupling. Our results suggest a direct experimental proof of this fundamental effect, confirming a long-standing theoretical prediction. For electron motion in a harmonic quantum wire, we numerically and analytically find a resonance condition maximizing the zitterbewegung.

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  • Received 13 October 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.206801

©2005 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

John Schliemann1, Daniel Loss1, and R. M. Westervelt2

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Basel, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
  • 2Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA

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Issue

Vol. 94, Iss. 20 — 27 May 2005

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