On general relation between quantum ergodicity and fidelity of quantum dynamics

General relation is derived which expresses the fidelity of quantum dynamics, measuring the stability of time evolution to small static variation in the hamiltonian, in terms of ergodicity of an observable generating the perturbation as defined by its time correlation function. Fidelity for ergodic dynamics is predicted to decay exponentially on time-scale proportional to delta^(-2) where delta is the strength of perturbation, whereas faster, typically gaussian decay on shorter time scale proportional to delta^(-1) is predicted for integrable, or generally non-ergodic dynamics. This surprising result is demonstrated in quantum Ising spin-1/2 chain periodically kicked with a tilted magnetic field where we find finite parameter-space regions of non-ergodic and non-integrable motion in thermodynamic limit.Comment: Slightly revised version, 4.5 RevTeX pages, 2 figure

Exact solution for a diffusive nonequilibrium steady state of an open quantum chain

We calculate a nonequilibrium steady state of a quantum XX chain in the presence of dephasing and driving due to baths at chain ends. The obtained state is exact in the limit of weak driving while the expressions for one- and two-point correlations are exact for an arbitrary driving strength. In the steady state the magnetization profile and the spin current display diffusive behavior. Spin-spin correlation function on the other hand has long-range correlations which though decay to zero in either the thermodynamical limit or for equilibrium driving. At zero dephasing a nonequilibrium phase transition occurs from a ballistic transport having short-range correlations to a diffusive transport with long-range correlations.Comment: 5 page

High order non-unitary split-step decomposition of unitary operators

We propose a high order numerical decomposition of exponentials of hermitean operators in terms of a product of exponentials of simple terms, following an idea which has been pioneered by M. Suzuki, however implementing it for complex coefficients. We outline a convenient fourth order formula which can be written compactly for arbitrary number of noncommuting terms in the Hamiltonian and which is superiour to the optimal formula with real coefficients, both in complexity and accuracy. We show asymptotic stability of our method for sufficiently small time step and demonstrate its efficiency and accuracy in different numerical models.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures (5 eps files) Submitted to J. of Phys. A: Math. Ge

A map from 1d Quantum Field Theory to Quantum Chaos on a 2d Torus

Dynamics of a class of quantum field models on 1d lattice in Heisenberg picture is mapped into a class of `quantum chaotic' one-body systems on configurational 2d torus (or 2d lattice) in Schr\" odinger picture. Continuum field limit of the former corresponds to quasi-classical limit of the latter.Comment: 4 pages in REVTeX, 1 eps-figure include

Berry-Robnik level statistics in a smooth billiard system

Berry-Robnik level spacing distribution is demonstrated clearly in a generic quantized plane billiard for the first time. However, this ultimate semi-classical distribution is found to be valid only for extremely small semi-classical parameter (effective Planck's constant) where the assumption of statistical independence of regular and irregular levels is achieved. For sufficiently larger semiclassical parameter we find (fractional power-law) level repulsion with phenomenological Brody distribution providing an adequate global fit.Comment: 10 pages in LaTeX with 4 eps figures include

Exact solution of Markovian master equations for quadratic fermi systems: thermal baths, open XY spin chains, and non-equilibrium phase transition

We generalize the method of third quantization to a unified exact treatment of Redfield and Lindblad master equations for open quadratic systems of n fermions in terms of diagonalization of 4n x 4n matrix. Non-equilibrium thermal driving in terms of the Redfield equation is analyzed in detail. We explain how to compute all physically relevant quantities, such as non-equilibrium expectation values of local observables, various entropies or information measures, or time evolution and properties of relaxation. We also discuss how to exactly treat explicitly time dependent problems. The general formalism is then applied to study a thermally driven open XY spin 1/2 chain. We find that recently proposed non-equilibrium quantum phase transition in the open XY chain survives the thermal driving within the Redfield model. In particular, the phase of long-range magnetic correlations can be characterized by hypersensitivity of the non-equilibrium-steady state to external (bath or bulk) parameters. Studying the heat transport we find negative thermal conductance for sufficiently strong thermal driving, as well as non-monotonic dependence of the heat current on the strength of the bath coupling.Comment: 24 pages, 12 figures, submitted to New Journal of Physics, Focus issue "Quantum Information and Many-Body Theory

Quantum chaos, dynamical stability and decoherence

We discuss the stability of quantum motion under system's perturbations in the light of the corresponding classical behavior. In particular we focus our attention on the so called "fidelity" or Loschmidt echo, its relation with the decay of correlations, and discuss the quantum-classical correspondence. We then report on the numerical simulation of the double-slit experiment, where the initial wave-packet is bounded inside a billiard domain with perfectly reflecting walls. If the shape of the billiard is such that the classical ray dynamics is regular, we obtain interference fringes whose visibility can be controlled by changing the parameters of the initial state. However, if we modify the shape of the billiard thus rendering classical (ray) dynamics fully chaotic, the interference fringes disappear and the intensity on the screen becomes the (classical) sum of intensities for the two corresponding one-slit experiments. Thus we show a clear and fundamental example in which transition to chaotic motion in a deterministic classical system, in absence of any external noise, leads to a profound modification in the quantum behavior

Regular and Irregular States in Generic Systems

In this work we present the results of a numerical and semiclassical analysis of high lying states in a Hamiltonian system, whose classical mechanics is of a generic, mixed type, where the energy surface is split into regions of regular and chaotic motion. As predicted by the principle of uniform semiclassical condensation (PUSC), when the effective $\hbar$ tends to 0, each state can be classified as regular or irregular. We were able to semiclassically reproduce individual regular states by the EBK torus quantization, for which we devise a new approach, while for the irregular ones we found the semiclassical prediction of their autocorrelation function, in a good agreement with numerics. We also looked at the low lying states to better understand the onset of semiclassical behaviour.Comment: 25 pages, 14 figures (as .GIF files), high quality figures available upon reques

Fidelity and Purity Decay in Weakly Coupled Composite Systems

We study the stability of unitary quantum dynamics of composite systems (for example: central system + environment) with respect to weak interaction between the two parts. Unified theoretical formalism is applied to study different physical situations: (i) coherence of a forward evolution as measured by purity of the reduced density matrix, (ii) stability of time evolution with respect to small coupling between subsystems, and (iii) Loschmidt echo measuring dynamical irreversibility. Stability has been measured either by fidelity of pure states of a composite system, or by the so-called reduced fidelity of reduced density matrices within a subsystem. Rigorous inequality among fidelity, reduced-fidelity and purity is proved and a linear response theory is developed expressing these three quantities in terms of time correlation functions of the generator of interaction. The qualitatively different cases of regular (integrable) or mixing (chaotic in the classical limit) dynamics in each of the subsystems are discussed in detail. Theoretical results are demonstrated and confirmed in a numerical example of two coupled kicked tops.Comment: 21 pages, 12 eps figure

Fourier's Law in a Quantum Spin Chain and the Onset of Quantum Chaos

We study heat transport in a nonequilibrium steady state of a quantum interacting spin chain. We provide clear numerical evidence of the validity of Fourier law. The regime of normal conductivity is shown to set in at the transition to quantum chaos.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, RevTe