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Quantum simulation of the Dirac equation

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  • R. Gerritsma

    (Institut für Quantenoptik und Quanteninformation, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Otto-Hittmair-Platz 1, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • G. Kirchmair

    (Institut für Quantenoptik und Quanteninformation, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Otto-Hittmair-Platz 1, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • F. Zähringer

    (Institut für Quantenoptik und Quanteninformation, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Otto-Hittmair-Platz 1, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • E. Solano

    (Universidad del País Vasco - Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Apartado 644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
    IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Alameda Urquijo 36, 48011 Bilbao, Spain)

  • R. Blatt

    (Institut für Quantenoptik und Quanteninformation, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Otto-Hittmair-Platz 1, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • C. F. Roos

    (Institut für Quantenoptik und Quanteninformation, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Otto-Hittmair-Platz 1, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

Abstract

Quantum particles aquiver The Dirac equation, proposed by Paul Dirac in 1928 to describe the behaviour of relativistic quantum particles, merges quantum mechanics with special relativity. A number of peculiar effects emerge from the equation, including a rapid quivering motion or 'Zitterbewegung', well established in theory but difficult to observe in real particles. Christian Roos and colleagues have developed a proof-of-principle quantum simulation of the Dirac equation using a single trapped ion set to behave as a free relativistic quantum particle. The high level of control of trapped-ion experimental parameters in this system makes it possible to simulate and study Zitterbewegung and other textbook examples of relativistic quantum physics.

Suggested Citation

  • R. Gerritsma & G. Kirchmair & F. Zähringer & E. Solano & R. Blatt & C. F. Roos, 2010. "Quantum simulation of the Dirac equation," Nature, Nature, vol. 463(7277), pages 68-71, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:463:y:2010:i:7277:d:10.1038_nature08688
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08688
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    Cited by:

    1. Anffany Chen & Hauke Brand & Tobias Helbig & Tobias Hofmann & Stefan Imhof & Alexander Fritzsche & Tobias Kießling & Alexander Stegmaier & Lavi K. Upreti & Titus Neupert & Tomáš Bzdušek & Martin Greit, 2023. "Hyperbolic matter in electrical circuits with tunable complex phases," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. M.-L. Cai & Y.-K. Wu & Q.-X. Mei & W.-D. Zhao & Y. Jiang & L. Yao & L. He & Z.-C. Zhou & L.-M. Duan, 2022. "Observation of supersymmetry and its spontaneous breaking in a trapped ion quantum simulator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.

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