Fritz Haake

Classical and quantum chaos for a kicked top

We discuss a top undergoing constant precession around a magnetic field and suffering a periodic sequence of impulsive nonlinear kicks. The squared angular momentum being a constant of the motion the quantum dynamics takes place in a finite dimensional Hilbert space. We find a distinction between regular and irregular behavior for times exceeding the quantum mechanical quasiperiod at which classical behavior, whether chaotic or regular, has died out in quantum means. The degree of level repulsion depends on whether or not the top is endowed with a generalized time reversal invariance.

Periodic-orbit theory of level correlations.

We present a semiclassical explanation of the so-called Bohigas-Giannoni-Schmit conjecture which asserts universality of spectral fluctuations in chaotic dynamics. We work with a generating function whose semiclassical limit is determined by quadruplets of sets of periodic orbits. The asymptotic expansions of both the nonoscillatory and the oscillatory part of the universal spectral correlator are obtained. Borel summation of the series reproduces the exact correlator of random-matrix theory.

The initiation of superfluorescence

The early stages of a superfluorescent pulse are described with full account of both quantum and propagation effects. The pulse is triggered by zero point fluctuations of the atomic polarization field. If the number of atoms N is large these zero point fluctuations, and the electric field radiated at early times as well, have a gaussian distribution with width 4/N. An equivalent classical stochastic process is found in terms of which the later, intrinsically nonlinear part of the radiation problem can be analyzed.

Universality of decoherence.

We consider environment induced decoherence of quantum superpositions to mixtures in the limit in which that process is much faster than any competing one generated by the Hamiltonian H(sys) of the isolated system. While the golden rule then does not apply we can discard H(sys). By allowing for couplings to different reservoirs, we reveal decoherence as a universal short-time phenomenon independent of the character of the system as well as the bath and of the basis the superimposed states are taken from. We discuss consequences for the classical behavior of the macroworld and quantum measurement: For decoherence of superpositions of macroscopically distinct states H(sys) is always negligible.

Periodic-Orbit Theory of Universality in Quantum Chaos

We argue semiclassically, on the basis of Gutzwillers periodic-orbit theory, that full classical chaos is paralleled by quantum energy spectra with universal spectral statistics, in agreement with random-matrix theory. For dynamics from all three Wigner-Dyson symmetry classes, we calculate the small-time spectral form factor K(tau) as power series in the time tau. Each term tau(n) of that series is provided by specific families of pairs of periodic orbits. The contributing pairs are classified in terms of close self-encounters in phase space. The frequency of occurrence of self-encounters is calculated by invoking ergodicity. Combinatorial rules for building pairs involve nontrivial properties of permutations. We show our series to be equivalent to perturbative implementations of the nonlinear sigma models for the Wigner-Dyson ensembles of random matrices and for disordered systems; our families of orbit pairs have a one-to-one relationship with Feynman diagrams known from the sigma model.

Periodic-orbit theory of universal level correlations in quantum chaos

Using Gutzwillers semiclassical periodic-orbit theory, we demonstrate universal behavior of the two-point correlator of the density of levels for quantum systems whose classical limit is fully chaotic. We go beyond previous work in establishing the full correlator such that its Fourier transform, the spectral form factor, is determined for all times, below and above the Heisenberg time. We cover dynamics with and without time-reversal invariance (from the orthogonal and unitary symmetry classes). A key step in our reasoning is to sum the periodic-orbit expansion in terms of a matrix integral, like the one known from the sigma model of random matrix theory.

Statistics of complex levels of random matrices for decaying systems

We present analytical and numerical results for the level density of a certain class of random non-Hermitian matrices ℋ=H+iГ. The conservative partH belongs to the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble while the damping piece Г is quadratic in Gaussian random numbers and may describe the decay of resonances through various channels. In the limit of a large matrix dimension the level density assumes a surprisingly simple dependence on the relative strength of the damping and the number of channels. Moreover, we identify situations with cubic repulsion between the complex eigenvalues of ℋ, to within a logarithmic correction.

PHOTON TRAINS AND LASING : THE PERIODICALLY PUMPED QUANTUM DOT

We propose to pump semiconductor quantum dots with surface acoustic waves which deliver an alternating periodic sequence of electrons and holes. In combination with a good optical cavity such regular pumping could entail anti-bunching and sub-Poissonian photon statistics. In the bad-cavity limit a train of equally spaced photons would arise.

Semiclassical approach to chaotic quantum transport

We describe a semiclassical method to calculate universal transport properties of chaotic cavities. While the energy-averaged conductance turns out governed by pairs of entrance-to-exit trajectories, the conductance variance, shot noise and other related quantities require trajectory quadruplets; simple diagrammatic rules allow us to find the contributions of these pairs and quadruplets. Both pure symmetry classes and the crossover due to an external magnetic field are considered.

Field quantization for chaotic resonators with overlapping modes

Feshbachs projector technique is employed to quantize the electromagnetic field in optical resonators with an arbitrary number of escape channels. We find spectrally overlapping resonator modes coupled due to the damping and noise inflicted by the external radiation field. For wave chaotic resonators the mode dynamics is determined by a non-Hermitean random matrix. Upon including an amplifying medium, our dynamics of open-resonator modes may serve as a starting point for a quantum theory of random lasing.