Researchers at NIST have proposed an experiment using ultracold atoms to replicate the “jitterbug” motion of electrons predicted by Dirac’s theory. The experiment would involve placing atoms in a carefully designed laser beam arrangement that mimics the behavior of electrons in free space. The atoms would exhibit Zitterbewegung – rapid, tiny vibrations – but at a slower frequency and larger amplitude than the electron version, making it detectable.
The proposed experiment uses a tripod arrangement of electron energy levels in rubidium-87 atoms, with laser beams at specific frequencies creating a standing wave pattern. The moving atoms would flip between two states, accompanied by position jiggling. This would provide a detectable simulation of electron behavior in free space, offering insights into a fundamental quantum mechanical oddity that would otherwise remain unobservable.
Keywords: Zitterbewegung, Dirac’s theory, Quantum mechanics, Electron, Simulation
