We show an implementation of a κ-deformed Dirac equation in tight-binding arrays of photonic waveguides. This is done with a special configuration of couplings extending to second-nearest neighbors. Geometric manipulations can control these evanescent couplings. A careful study of wave packet propagation is presented, including the effects of deformation parameters on Zitterbewegung or trembling motion. In this way, we demonstrate how to emulate the effects of a flat noncommutative spacetime—i.e., κ-Minkowski spacetime—in simple experimental setups.
