Semiclassical Dynamics of Electron Wave Packet States with Phase Vortices

Journal Article · Fri Nov 09 00:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.99.190404· OSTI ID:21024399

Bliokh, Konstantin Yu ^[1]; Bliokh, Yury P ^[1]; Savel'ev, Sergey ^[1]; Nori, Franco ^[1]

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1. Frontier Research System, The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198 (Japan)

We consider semiclassical higher-order wave packet solutions of the Schroedinger equation with phase vortices. The vortex line is aligned with the propagation direction, and the wave packet carries a well-defined orbital angular momentum (OAM) ({Dirac_h}/2{pi})l (l is the vortex strength) along its main linear momentum. The probability current coils around the momentum in such OAM states of electrons. In an electric field, these states evolve like massless particles with spin l. The magnetic-monopole Berry curvature appears in momentum space, which results in a spin-orbit-type interaction and a Berry/Magnus transverse force acting on the wave packet. This brings about the OAM Hall effect. In a magnetic field, there is a Zeeman interaction, which, can lead to more complicated dynamics.

• OSTI ID: 21024399
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 99, Issue 19; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.190404; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
HALL EFFECT
LINEAR MOMENTUM
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC MONOPOLES
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM
PROBABILITY
SCHROEDINGER EQUATION
SEMICLASSICAL APPROXIMATION
WAVE PACKETS
ZEEMAN EFFECT