Intensity fluctuations in closed and open systems

Intensity statistics inside an open wave-chaotic cavity with broken time-reversal invariance

Using the supersymmetric method of random matrix theory within the Heidelberg approach framework we provide statistical description of stationary intensity sampled in locations inside an open wave-chaotic cavity, assuming that the time-reversal invariance inside the cavity is fully broken. In particular, we show that when incoming waves are fed via a finite number M of open channels the probability density P(I) for the single-point intensity I decays as a power law for large intensities: P(I)∼I^{-(M+2)}, provided there is no internal losses. This behavior is in marked difference with the Rayleigh law P(I)∼exp(-I/I[over ¯]), which turns out to be valid only in the limit M→∞. We also find the joint probability density of intensities I_{1},...,I_{L} in L>1 observation points, and then we extract the corresponding statistics for the maximal intensity in the observation pattern. For L→∞ the resulting limiting extreme value statistics (EVS) turns out to be different from the classical EVS distributions.

Nonstationary Intensity Statistics in Diffusive Waves

It is a long-standing belief that, in the diffusion regime, the intensity statistics is always stationary and its probability distribution follows a negative exponential decay. Here, we demonstrate that, in fact, in reflection from strong disordered media, the intensity statistics changes through different stages of the diffusion. We present a statistical model that describes this nonstationary property and takes into account the evolving balance between recurrent scattering and near field coupling. The predictions are further verified by systematic experiments in the optical regime. This statistical nonstationary is akin to the nonequilibrium but steady-state diffusion of particulate systems.

Lossy chaotic electromagnetic reverberation chambers: Universal statistical behavior of the vectorial field

The effective Hamiltonian formalism is extended to vectorial electromagnetic waves in order to describe statistical properties of the field in reverberation chambers. The latter are commonly used in electromagnetic compatibility tests. As a first step, the distribution of wave intensities in chaotic systems with varying opening in the weak coupling limit for scalar quantum waves is derived by means of random matrix theory. In this limit the only parameters are the modal overlap and the number of open channels. Using the extended effective Hamiltonian, we describe the intensity statistics of the vectorial electromagnetic eigenmodes of lossy reverberation chambers. Finally, the typical quantity of interest in such chambers, namely, the distribution of the electromagnetic response, is discussed. By determining the distribution of the phase rigidity, describing the coupling to the environment, using random matrix numerical data, we find good agreement between the theoretical prediction and numerical calculations of the response.

Compounding approach for univariate time series with nonstationary variances

A defining feature of nonstationary systems is the time dependence of their statistical parameters. Measured time series may exhibit Gaussian statistics on short time horizons, due to the central limit theorem. The sample statistics for long time horizons, however, averages over the time-dependent variances. To model the long-term statistical behavior, we compound the local distribution with the distribution of its parameters. Here, we consider two concrete, but diverse, examples of such nonstationary systems: the turbulent air flow of a fan and a time series of foreign exchange rates. Our main focus is to empirically determine the appropriate parameter distribution for the compounding approach. To this end, we extract the relevant time scales by decomposing the time signals into windows and determine the distribution function of the thus obtained local variances.

Localization in chaotic systems with a single-channel opening

We introduce a single-channel opening in a random Hamiltonian and a quantized chaotic map: localization on the opening occurs as a sensible deviation of the wave-function statistics from the predictions of random matrix theory, even in the semiclassical limit. Increasing the coupling to the open channel in the quantum model, we observe a similar picture to resonance trapping, made of a few fast-decaying states, whose left (right) eigenfunctions are entirely localized on the (preimage of the) opening, and plentiful long-lived states, whose probability density is instead suppressed at the opening. For the latter, we derive and test a linear relation between the wave-function intensities and the decay rates, similar to the Breit-Wigner law. We then analyze the statistics of the eigenfunctions of the corresponding (discretized) classical propagator, finding a similar behavior to the quantum system only in the weak-coupling regime.

Statistics of resonance states in a weakly open chaotic cavity with continuously distributed losses

In this Rapid Communication, we demonstrate that a non-Hermitian random matrix description can account for both spectral and spatial statistics of resonance states in a weakly open chaotic wave system with continuously distributed losses. More specifically, the statistics of resonance states in an open two-dimensional chaotic microwave cavity are investigated by solving the Maxwell equations with lossy boundaries subject to Ohmic dissipation. We successfully compare the statistics of its complex-valued resonance states and associated widths with analytical predictions based on a non-Hermitian effective Hamiltonian model defined by a finite number of fictitious open channels.

Intensity statistics of random signals in Gaussian noise

The intensity statistics of random signals in the presence of Gaussian noise is obtained by considering the model of a random signal plus a random phasor sum. The additive Gaussian noise is shown to result in a Bessel transform of the probability density of signal intensity. The transformation of the intensity statistics can generally be applied to mixtures of independent random signals, one of which being a complex-valued Gaussian random process. It is used to retrieve intensity statistics of microwave pulsed transmission from Gaussian noise at long time delays.

Statistics of resonance states in open chaotic systems: a perturbative approach

We investigate the statistical properties of the complexness parameter which characterizes uniquely complexness (nonorthogonality) of resonance eigenstates of open chaotic systems. Specifying to the regime of weakly overlapping resonances, we apply the random matrix theory to the effective Hamiltonian formalism and derive analytically the probability distribution of the complexness parameter for two statistical ensembles describing the systems invariant under time reversal. For those with rigid spectra, we consider a Hamiltonian characterized by a picket-fence spectrum without spectral fluctuations. Then, in the more realistic case of a Hamiltonian described by the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble, we reveal and discuss the role of spectral fluctuations.

Quasimodes of a chaotic elastic cavity with increasing local losses

We report noninvasive measurements of the complex field of elastic quasimodes of a silicon wafer with chaotic shape. The amplitude and phase spatial distribution of the flexural modes are directly obtained by Fourier transform of time measurements. We investigate the crossover from real mode to complex-valued quasimode, when absorption is progressively increased on one edge of the wafer. The complexness parameter, which characterizes the degree to which a resonance state is complex valued, is measured for nonoverlapping resonances, and is found to be proportional to the nonhomogeneous contribution to the line broadening of the resonance. A simple two-level model based on the effective Hamiltonian formalism supports our experimental results.

Statistics of nodal points of in-plane random waves in elastic media

We consider the nodal points (NPs) u=0 and v=0 of the in-plane vectorial displacements u=(u,v) which obey the Navier-Cauchy equation. Similar to the Berry conjecture of quantum chaos, we present the in-plane eigenstates of chaotic billiards as the real part of the superposition of longitudinal and transverse plane waves with random phases. By an average over random phases we derive the mean density and correlation function of NPs. Consequently we consider the distribution of the nearest distances between NPs.

Lasing with resonant feedback in weakly scattering random systems

Laser action in active random media in the weak scattering regime far from Anderson localization is investigated by coupling Maxwell's equations with the rate equations of a four-level atomic system. We report systematic lasing action with resonant feedback and show that the lasing modes mostly consist of traveling waves spatially extended over the whole system. Next we address the question of the origin of the feedback mechanism in such a system where no disorder-induced long-lived resonances are available, and present strong evidence that they correspond to the quasimodes of the passive system. This in turn provides an original way to access the spatial distribution of the quasimodes of a non-Hermitian system.

Spectroscopic properties of large open quantum-chaotic cavities with and without separated time scales

The spectroscopic properties of an open large Bunimovich cavity are studied numerically in the framework of the effective Hamiltonian formalism. The cavity is opened by attaching two leads to it in four different ways. In some cases, the transmission takes place via standing waves with an intensity that closely follows the profile of the resonances. In other cases, short-lived and long-lived resonance states coexist. The short-lived states cause traveling waves in the transmission while the long-lived ones generate superposed fluctuations. The traveling waves oscillate as a function of energy. They are not localized in the interior of the large chaotic cavity. In all considered cases, the phase rigidity fluctuates with energy. It is mostly near to its maximum value and agrees well with the theoretical value for the two-channel case.

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.

Electric circuit networks equivalent to chaotic quantum billiards

We consider two electric RLC resonance networks that are equivalent to quantum billiards. In a network of inductors grounded by capacitors, the eigenvalues of the quantum billiard correspond to the squared resonant frequencies. In a network of capacitors grounded by inductors, the eigenvalues of the billiard are given by the inverse of the squared resonant frequencies. In both cases, the local voltages play the role of the wave function of the quantum billiard. However, unlike for quantum billiards, there is a heat power because of the resistance of the inductors. In the equivalent chaotic billiards, we derive a distribution of the heat power which describes well the numerical statistics.

Measurement of long-range wave-function correlations in an open microwave billiard

We investigate the statistical properties of wave functions in an open chaotic cavity. When the number of channels in the openings of the billiard is increased by varying the frequency, wave functions cross over from real to complex. The distribution of the phase rigidity, which characterizes the degree to which a wave function is complex, and long-range correlations of intensity and current density are studied as a function of the number of channels in the openings. All measured quantities are in perfect agreement with theoretical predictions.

Current statistics for wave transmission through an open Sinai billiard: effects of net currents

Transport through quantum and microwave cavities is studied by analytic and numerical techniques. In particular, we consider the statistics for a finite net probability current (Poynting vector) <j> flowing through an open ballistic Sinai billiard to which two opposite leads/wave guides are attached. We show that if the net probability current is small, the scattering wave function inside the billiard is well approximated by a Gaussian random complex field. In this case, the current statistics are universal and obey simple analytic forms. For larger net currents, these forms still apply over several orders of magnitudes. However, small characteristic deviations appear in the tail regions. Although the focus is on electron and microwave billiards, the analysis is relevant also to other classical wave cavities as, for example, open planar acoustic reverberation rooms, elastic membranes, and water surface waves in irregularly shaped vessels.

Wave function statistics in open chaotic billiards

We study the statistical properties of wave functions in a chaotic billiard that is opened up to the outside world. Upon increasing the openings, the billiard wave functions cross over from real to complex. Each wave function is characterized by a phase rigidity, which is itself a fluctuating quantity. We calculate the probability distribution of the phase rigidity and discuss how phase rigidity fluctuations cause long-range correlations of intensity and current density. We also find that phase rigidities for wave functions with different incoming wave boundary conditions are statistically correlated.

Current and vortex statistics in microwave billiards

Using the one-to-one correspondence between the Poynting vector in a microwave billiard and the probability current density in the corresponding quantum system, probability densities and currents were studied in a microwave billiard with a ferrite insert as well as in an open billiard. Distribution functions were obtained for probability densities, currents, and vorticities. In addition, the vortex pair correlation function could be extracted. For all studied quantities a complete agreement with the predictions from the approach using a random superposition of plane waves was obtained.

Wave function statistics for ballistic quantum transport through chaotic open billiards: statistical crossover and coexistence of regular and chaotic waves

For ballistic transport through chaotic open billiards, we implement accurate fully quantal calculations of the probability distributions and spatial correlations of the local densities of single-electron wave functions within the cavity. We find wave-statistical behaviors intrinsically different from those in their closed counterparts. Chaotic-scattering wave functions in open systems can be quantitatively interpreted in terms of statistically independent real and imaginary random fields in the same way as for wave-function statistics of closed systems in the time-reversal symmetry-breaking crossover regime. We also discuss perceived statistical deviations, which are attributed to the coexistence of regular and chaotic waves and given analytical explanations.