Signature of topological phases in Zitterbewegung

Abstract

We have studied the {\em Zitterbewegung} effect on an infinite two dimensional sheet with honeycomb lattice. By tuning the perpendicular electric field and the magnetization of the sheet, it can enter different topological phases. We have shown that the phase and magnitude of Zitterbewegung effect, i.e. the jittering motion of relativistic particles, correlates with the various topological phases. The topological phase diagram can be reconstructed by analyzing these features. Our findings are applicable to materials like silicene, germanene, stanene etc.

LaTex, 6 pages, 6 figures