Berry curvature effects in the Bloch oscillations of a quantum particle under a strong (synthetic) magnetic field

TL;DR

This paper investigates how Berry curvature influences the semiclassical dynamics of a quantum particle in a 2D lattice under strong synthetic magnetic fields, linking it to the classical Hall effect and potential optical system observations.

Contribution

It provides an elementary derivation of Berry curvature effects on Bloch oscillations and connects these quantum effects to classical Hall phenomena.

Findings

Berry curvature modifies quantum particle trajectories in magnetic Bloch oscillations.

Explicit connection established between Berry curvature effects and the classical Hall effect.

Discussion on observing these effects in optical systems with synthetic gauge fields.

Abstract

We study the magnetic Bloch oscillations performed by a quantum particle moving in a two-dimensional lattice in the presence of a strong (synthetic) magnetic field and a uniform force. An elementary derivation of the Berry curvature effect on the semiclassical trajectory is given as well as an explicit connection to the classical Hall effect in the continuum limit. Perspectives to observe these effects in optical systems using synthetic gauge fields for photons are discussed.