Quantum simulation of the Weyl equation with a trapped ion

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to simulate the Weyl equation using a single trapped ion, enabling experimental investigation of Weyl fermion dynamics and related phenomena like Zitterbewegung, which could deepen understanding of neutrinos.

Contribution

It introduces a novel trapped ion simulation approach for the Weyl equation in 1+2 dimensions, facilitating experimental study of Weyl fermion behavior.

Findings

Predicted two-dimensional Zitterbewegung.

Identified phenomena of Weyl fermions for future testing.

Potential to enhance understanding of neutrinos.

Abstract

The Weyl equation describes chiral massless relativistic particles, called Weyl fermions, which have important relations to neutrinos. A direct observation of the dynamics of Weyl fermions in an experiment is difficult to achieve. This study investigates a method of simulating the Weyl equation in 1+2-dimension by a single trapped ion. The predictions about a two-dimensional Zitterbewegung and an especially interesting phenomenon of Weyl fermions can be tested by the future trapped ion experiment, which might enhance our understanding of neutrinos.