Quantum signatures of partial barriers in phase space

Matthias Michler

Technische Universität Dresden, Institut für Theoretische Physik, Fachbereich Physik, Dresden, Germany

In generic Hamiltonian systems classical transport in the chaotic sea is limited by partial barriers, which allow a flux Φ given by the turnstile area. Quantum mechanically they are even more restrictive for Planck's constant ℏ ≫ Φ, while in the opposite case classical transport is recovered. This transition is qualitatively well understood, however, many quantitative questions are still open. We construct a kicked system with a particularly simple phase-space structure, namely two chaotic regions separated by one dominant partial barrier. This enables us to investigate the properties of eigenfunctions under variation of the ratio Φ / ℏ and to search for a universal scaling. Furthermore we investigate the tunneling through a partial barrier.

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