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Zitterbewegung (ZB) is a phenomenon in relativistic quantum systems where the electron wave packet exhibits a trembling or oscillating behavior during its motion, caused by its interaction or coupling with the negative energy state. To directly observe ZB in electronic systems is difficult, due to the challenges associated with the small amplitude of the motion which is of the order of Compton wavelength. Photonic systems offer an alternative paradigm. We exploit the concept of pseudo parity-time (pseudo ${ \mathcal P }{ \mathcal T }$ ) symmetry to study ZB in non-Hermitian quantum systems implemented as an experimentally feasible optical waveguide array. In particular, the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian is realized through evanescent coupling among the waveguides to form a one-dimensional lattice with periodic modulations in gain and loss along the guiding direction. As the modulation frequency is changed, we obtain a number of phenomena including periodically suppressed ZB trembling, spatial energy localization, and Hermitian-like ZB oscillations. We calculate phase diagrams indicating the emergence of different types of dynamical behaviors of the relativistic non-Hermitian quantum system in an experimentally justified parameter space. We provide numerical results and a physical analysis to explain the distinct dynamical behaviors revealed by the phase diagrams. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of both the relativistic ZB phenomenon and non-Hermitian pseudo- ${ \mathcal P }{ \mathcal T }$ systems, with potential applications in controlling/harnessing light propagation in waveguide-based optical systems.

Formed through a closed domain magnetic heterostructure on the surface of a three-dimensional topological insulator, a quantum dot permits a class of quantized interfacial states of topological origin. We find that these states exhibit a remarkable reverse Stark effect in response to an applied electric field. In particular, those topological states whose energies are within the gap exhibit peculiar electrical alignments that are opposite to those associated with the conventional quantum-confined Stark effect in that the positive- (negative-) energy states tend to align with (against) the direction of the field. The phenomenon has unusual implications for the associated optical transitions. Furthermore, the exotic topological states exhibit polarized spin textures that can be effectively controlled electrically or optically, opening an avenue for potential applications in Dirac-material-based spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do relativistic quantum scars in classically chaotic systems possess unique features that are not shared by nonrelativistic quantum scars? We report a class of relativistic quantum scars in massless Dirac fermion systems whose phases return to the original values or acquire a 2p change only after circulating twice about some classical unstable periodic orbits. We name such scars chiral scars, the successful identification of which has been facilitated tremendously by our development of an analytic, conformal-mapping-based method to calculate an unprecedentedly large number of eigenstates with high accuracy. Our semiclassical theory indicates that the physical origin of chiral scars can be attributed to a combined effect of chirality intrinsic to massless Dirac fermions and the geometry of the underlying classical orbit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A topological quantum phase requires a finite momentum-space Berry curvature which, conventionally, can arise through breaking the inversion or the time-reversal symmetry so as to generate nontrivial, topologically invariant quantities associated with the underlying energy band structure (e.g., a finite Chern number). For conventional graphene or graphenelike two-dimensional (2D) systems with gapless Dirac cones, the symmetry breaking will make the system insulating due to lifting of the degeneracy. To design materials that simultaneously possess the two seemingly contradicting properties (i.e., a semimetal phase with gapless bulk Dirac-like cones and a finite Berry curvature) is of interest. We propose a 2D mechanical dice lattice system that exhibits precisely such properties. As a result, an intrinsic valley Hall effect can arise without compromising the carrier mobility as the quasiparticles remain massless. We also find that, with confinement along the zigzag edges, two distinct types of gapless edge states with opposite edge polarizations can arise, one with a finite but the other with zero group velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]