2021/12/27 by Ignacio García-Mata, Diego A. Wisniacki, Eduardo Vergini +1
Physics and Astronomy · #Classical limit #Gravitational singularity #Homoclinic orbit #Limit (mathematics) #Phase space #Quantum #Quantum Mechanics and Non-Hermitian Physics #Quantum chaos #Quantum chaos and dynamical systems #Quantum dissipation #Quantum dynamics #Quantum many-body systems #Semiclassical physics #nlin.CD #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physreve.104.l062202
published as Phys. Rev. E 104, L062202 (Letters). Published 27 December 2021 · 6 pages + Supp. Mat. 4+6 Figs. Closest to published version
arxiv created 2021/12/27 · openalex publication_date 2021/12/27 · arxiv updated 2021/12/28 · openalex created_date 2021/12/31 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Excited-state quantum phase transitions (ESQPTs) are critical phenomena that generate singularities in the spectrum of quantum systems. For systems with a classical counterpart, these phenomena have their origin in the classical limit when the separatrix of an unstable periodic orbit divides phase space into different regions. Using a semiclassical theory of wave propagation based on the manifolds of unstable periodic orbits, we describe the quantum states associated with an ESQPT for the quantum standard map: a paradigmatic example of a kicked quantum system. Moreover, we show that finite-size precursors of ESQPTs shrink as chaos increases due to the disturbance of the system. This phenomenon is explained through destructive interference between principal homoclinic orbits.