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arXiv · cond-mat/0512148

Zitterbewegung of electrons and holes in III-V semiconductor quantum wells

John Schliemann·Daniel Loss·R. M. Westervelt
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Abstract

The notion of zitterbewegung is a long-standing prediction of relativistic quantum mechanics. Here we extend earlier theoretical studies on this phenomenon for the case of III-V zinc-blende semiconductors which exhibit particularly strong spin-orbit coupling. This property makes nanostructures made of these materials very favorable systems for possible experimental observations of zitterbewegung. Our investigations include electrons in n-doped quantum wells under the influence of both Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction, and also the two-dimensional hole gas. Moreover, we give a detailed anaysis of electron zitterbewegung in quantum wires which appear to be particularly suited for experimentally observing this effect.

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John Schliemann, Daniel Loss, R. M. Westervelt. 2005-12-07. Zitterbewegung of electrons and holes in III-V semiconductor quantum wells. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.73.085323

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