Spectral statistics in an open parametric billiard system.

We present experimental results on the eigenfrequency statistics of a superconducting, chaotic microwave billiard containing a rotatable obstacle. Deviations of the spectral fluctuations from predictions based on Gaussian orthogonal ensembles of random matrices are found. They are explained by treating the billiard as an open scattering system in which microwave power is coupled in and out via antennas. To study the interaction of the quantum (or wave) system with its environment, a highly sensitive parametric correlator is used.

Spectral statistics of chaotic systems with a pointlike scatterer

The statistical properties of a Hamiltonian H0 perturbed by a localized scatterer are considered. We prove that if H0 describes a bounded chaotic motion, the universal part of the spectral statistics is not changed by the perturbation. This is done first within the random matrix model. Then it is shown by semiclassical techniques that the result is due to a cancellation between diagonal diffractive and off-diagonal periodic-diffractive contributions. The compensation is a very general phenomenon encoding the semiclassical content of the optical theorem.

Periodic orbit spectrum in terms of Ruelle-Pollicott resonances.

Fully chaotic Hamiltonian systems possess an infinite number of classical solutions which are periodic, e.g., a trajectory "p" returns to its initial conditions after some fixed time tau(p). Our aim is to investigate the spectrum [tau(1),tau(2), ...] of periods of the periodic orbits. An explicit formula for the density rho(tau)= Sigma(p)delta(tau-tau(p)) is derived in terms of the eigenvalues of the classical evolution operator. The density is naturally decomposed into a smooth part plus an interferent sum over oscillatory terms. The frequencies of the oscillatory terms are given by the imaginary part of the complex eigenvalues (Ruelle-Pollicott resonances). For large periods, corrections to the well-known exponential growth of the smooth part of the density are obtained. An alternative formula for rho(tau) in terms of the zeros and poles of the Ruelle zeta function is also discussed. The results are illustrated with the geodesic motion in billiards of constant negative curvature. Connections with the statistical properties of the corresponding quantum eigenvalues, random-matrix theory, and discrete maps are also considered. In particular, a random-matrix conjecture is proposed for the eigenvalues of the classical evolution operator of chaotic billiards.

Topological aspects of quantum chaos.

Quantized classically chaotic maps on a toroidal two-dimensional phase space are studied. A discrete, topological criterion for phase-space localization is presented. To each eigenfunction is associated an integer, analogous to a quantized Hall conductivity, which tests the way the eigenfunction explores the phase space as some boundary conditions are changed. The correspondence between delocalization and chaotic classical dynamics is discussed, as well as the role of degeneracies of the eigenspectrum in the transition from localized to delocalized states. The general results are illustrated with a particular model.

Semiclassical theory of Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer pairing-gap fluctuations.

Superfluidity and superconductivity are genuine many-body manifestations of quantum coherence. For finite-size systems the associated pairing gap fluctuates as a function of size or shape. We provide a theoretical description of the zero temperature pairing fluctuations in the weak-coupling BCS limit of mesoscopic systems characterized by order or chaos dynamics. The theory accurately describes experimental observations of nuclear superfluidity (regular system), predicts universal fluctuations of superconductivity in small chaotic metallic grains, and provides a global analysis in ultracold Fermi gases.

Dipole oscillations of a Bose-Einstein condensate in the presence of defects and disorder.

We consider dipole oscillations of a trapped dilute Bose-Einstein condensate in the presence of a scattering potential consisting either in a localized defect or in an extended disordered potential. In both cases the breaking of superfluidity and the damping of the oscillations are shown to be related to the appearance of a nonlinear dissipative flow. At supersonic velocities the flow becomes asymptotically dissipationless.

Level density of a bose gas and extreme value statistics.

We establish a connection between the level density of a gas of noninteracting bosons and the theory of extreme value statistics. Depending on the exponent that characterizes the growth of the underlying single-particle spectrum, we show that at a given excitation energy the limiting distribution function for the number of excited particles follows the three universal distribution laws of extreme value statistics, namely, the Gumbel, Weibull, and Fréchet distributions. Implications of this result, as well as general properties of the level density at different energies, are discussed.

Superfluidity versus Anderson localization in a dilute Bose gas.

We consider the motion of a quasi-one-dimensional beam of Bose-Einstein condensed particles in a disordered region of finite extent. Interaction effects lead to the appearance of two distinct regions of stationary flow. One is subsonic and corresponds to superfluid motion. The other one is supersonic and dissipative and shows Anderson localization. We compute analytically the interaction-dependent localization length. We also explain the disappearance of the supersonic stationary flow for large disordered samples.

Correlations in nuclear masses.

It was recently suggested that the error with respect to experimental data in nuclear mass calculations is due to the presence of chaotic motion. The theory was tested by analyzing the typical error size. A more sensitive quantity, the correlations of the mass error between neighboring nuclei, is studied here. The results provide further support to this physical interpretation.

Fluctuations in the level density of a fermi gas.

We present a theory that accurately describes the counting of excited states of a noninteracting fermionic gas. At high excitation energies the results reproduce Bethe's theory. At low energies oscillatory corrections to the many-body density of states, related to shell effects, are obtained. The fluctuations depend nontrivially on energy and particle number. Universality and connections with Poisson statistics and random matrix theory are established for regular and chaotic single-particle motion.

Universality in quantum parametric correlations.

We investigate the universality of correlation functions of chaotic and disordered quantum systems as an external parameter is varied. A general scaling procedure is introduced which makes the theory invariant under reparametrizations. Under certain general conditions we show that this procedure is unique. The approach is illustrated with the particular case of the distribution of eigenvalue curvatures. We also derive a semiclassical formula for the nonuniversal scaling factor, and give an explicit expression valid for arbitrary deformations of a billiard system.

Nuclear masses: evidence of order-chaos coexistence.

Shell corrections are important in the determination of nuclear ground-state masses and shapes. Although general arguments favor a regular single-particle dynamics, symmetry breaking and the presence of chaotic layers cannot be excluded. The latter provide a natural framework that explains the observed differences between experimental and computed masses.