Wigner surmise for mixed symmetry classes in random matrix theory

Experimental test of the Rosenzweig-Porter model for the transition from Poisson to Gaussian unitary ensemble statistics

We report on an experimental investigation of the transition of a quantum system with integrable classical dynamics to one with violated time-reversal (T) invariance and chaotic classical counterpart. High-precision experiments are performed with a flat superconducting microwave resonator with circular shape in which T-invariance violation and chaoticity are induced by magnetizing a ferrite disk placed at its center, which above the cutoff frequency of the first transverse-electric mode acts as a random potential. We determine a complete sequence of ≃1000 eigenfrequencies and find good agreement with analytical predictions for the spectral properties of the Rosenzweig-Porter (RP) model, which interpolates between Poisson statistics expected for typical integrable systems and Gaussian unitary ensemble statistics predicted for chaotic systems with violated Tinvariance. Furthermore, we combine the RP model and the Heidelberg approach for quantum-chaotic scattering to construct a random-matrix model for the scattering (S) matrix of the corresponding open quantum system and show that it perfectly reproduces the fluctuation properties of the measured S matrix of the microwave resonator.

Time-reversal-invariant hexagonal billiards with a point symmetry

A biparametric family of hexagonal billiards enjoying the C_{3} point symmetry is introduced and numerically investigated. First, the relative measure r(ℓ,θ;t) in a reduced phase space was mapped onto the parameter plane ℓ×θ for discrete time t up to 10^{8} and averaged in tens of randomly chosen initial conditions in each billiard. The resulting phase diagram allowed us to identify fully ergodic systems in the set. It is then shown that the absolute value of the position autocorrelation function decays like |C_{q}(t)|∼t^{-σ}, with 0<σ⩽1 in the hexagons. Following previous examples of irrational triangles, we were able to find billiards for which σ∼1. This is further evidence that, although not chaotic (all Lyapunov exponents are zero), billiards in polygons might exhibit a near strongly mixing dynamics in the ergodic hierarchy. Quantized counterparts with distinct classical properties were also characterized. Spectral properties of singlets and doublets of the quantum billiards were investigated separately well beyond the ground state. As a rule of thumb, for both singlet and doublet sequences, we calculate the first 120 000 energy eigenvalues in a given billiard and compute the nearest neighbor spacing distribution p(s), as well as the cumulative spacing function I(s)=∫_{0}^{s}p(s^{'})ds^{'}, by considering the last 20 000 eigenvalues only. For billiards with σ∼1, we observe the results predicted for chaotic geometries by Leyvraz, Schmit, and Seligman, namely, a Gaussian unitary ensemble behavior in the degenerate subspectrum, in spite of the presence of time-reversal invariance, and a Gaussian orthogonal ensemble behavior in the singlets subset. For 0<σ<1, formulas for intermediate quantum statistics have been derived for the doublets following previous works by Brody, Berry and Robnik, and Bastistić and Robnik. Different regimes in a given energy spectrum have been identified through the so-called ergodic parameter α=t_{H}/t_{C}, the ratio between the Heisenberg time and the classical diffusive-like transport time, which signals the possibility of quantum dynamical localization when α<1. A good quantitative agreement is found between the appropriate formulas with parameters extracted from the classical phase space and the data from the calculated quantum spectra. A rich variety of standing wave patterns and corresponding Poincaré-Husimi representations in a reduced phase space are reported, including those associated with lattice modes, scarring, and high-frequency localization phenomena.

Missing-level statistics in a dissipative microwave resonator with partially violated time-reversal invariance

We report on the experimental investigation of the fluctuation properties in the resonance frequency spectra of a flat resonator simulating a dissipative quantum billiard subject to partial time-reversal-invariance violation (TIV) which is induced by two magnetized ferrites. The cavity has the shape of a quarter bowtie billiard of which the corresponding classical dynamics is chaotic. Due to dissipation it is impossible to identify a complete list of resonance frequencies. Based on a random-matrix theory approach we derive analytical expressions for statistical measures of short- and long-range correlations in such incomplete spectra interpolating between the cases of preserved time-reversal invariance and complete TIV and demonstrate their applicability to the experimental spectra.

Fingerprint of chaos and quantum scars in kicked Dicke model: an out-of-time-order correlator study

We investigate the onset of chaos in a periodically kicked Dicke model (KDM), using the out-of-time-order correlator (OTOC) as a diagnostic tool, in both the oscillator and the spin subspaces. In the large spin limit, the classical Hamiltonian map is constructed, which allows us to investigate the corresponding phase space dynamics and to compute the Lyapunov exponent. We show that the growth rate of the OTOC for the canonically conjugate coordinates of the oscillator is able to capture the Lyapunov exponent in the chaotic regime. The onset of chaos is further investigated using the saturation value of the OTOC, that can serve as an alternate indicator of chaos in a generic interacting quantum system. This is also supported by a system independent effective random matrix model. We further identify the quantum scars in KDM and detect their dynamical signature by using the OTOC dynamics. The relevance of the present study in the context of ongoing cold atom experiments is also discussed.

Distribution of the ratio of two consecutive level spacings in orthogonal to unitary crossover ensembles

The ratio of two consecutive level spacings has emerged as a very useful metric in investigating universal features exhibited by complex spectra. It does not require the knowledge of density of states and is therefore quite convenient to compute in analyzing the spectrum of a general system. The Wigner-surmise-like results for the ratio distribution are known for the invariant classes of Gaussian random matrices. However, for the crossover ensembles, which are useful in modeling systems with partially broken symmetries, corresponding results have remained unavailable so far. In this work, we derive exact results for the distribution and average of the ratio of two consecutive level spacings in the Gaussian orthogonal to unitary crossover ensemble using a 3×3 random matrix model. This crossover is useful in modeling time-reversal symmetry breaking in quantum chaotic systems. Although based on a 3×3 matrix model, our results can also be applied in the study of large spectra, provided the symmetry-breaking parameter facilitating the crossover is suitably scaled. We substantiate this claim by considering Gaussian and Laguerre crossover ensembles comprising large matrices. Moreover, we apply our result to investigate the violation of time-reversal invariance in the quantum kicked rotor system.

Crossover between the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble, the Gaussian unitary ensemble, and Poissonian statistics

Until now only for specific crossovers between Poissonian statistics (P), the statistics of a Gaussian orthogonal ensemble (GOE), or the statistics of a Gaussian unitary ensemble (GUE) have analytical formulas for the level spacing distribution function been derived within random matrix theory. We investigate arbitrary crossovers in the triangle between all three statistics. To this aim we propose an according formula for the level spacing distribution function depending on two parameters. Comparing the behavior of our formula for the special cases of P→GUE, P→GOE, and GOE→GUE with the results from random matrix theory, we prove that these crossovers are described reasonably. Recent investigations by F. Schweiner et al. [Phys. Rev. E 95, 062205 (2017)2470-004510.1103/PhysRevE.95.062205] have shown that the Hamiltonian of magnetoexcitons in cubic semiconductors can exhibit all three statistics in dependence on the system parameters. Evaluating the numerical results for magnetoexcitons in dependence on the excitation energy and on a parameter connected with the cubic valence band structure and comparing the results with the formula proposed allows us to distinguish between regular and chaotic behavior as well as between existent or broken antiunitary symmetries. Increasing one of the two parameters, transitions between different crossovers, e.g., from the P→GOE to the P→GUE crossover, are observed and discussed.

GOE-GUE-Poisson transitions in the nearest-neighbor spacing distribution of magnetoexcitons

Recent investigations on the Hamiltonian of excitons by Schweiner et al.. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 046401 (2017)]PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.118.046401 revealed that the combined presence of a cubic band structure and external fields breaks all antiunitary symmetries. The nearest-neighbor spacing distribution of magnetoexcitons can exhibit Poissonian statistics, the statistics of a Gaussian orthogonal ensemble (GOE), or a Gaussian unitary ensemble (GUE) depending on the system parameters. Hence, magnetoexcitons are an ideal system to investigate the transitions between these statistics. Here we investigate the transitions between GOE and GUE statistics and between Poissonian and GUE statistics by changing the angle of the magnetic field with respect to the crystal lattice and by changing the scaled energy known from the hydrogen atom in external fields. Comparing our results with analytical formulas for these transitions derived with random matrix theory, we obtain a very good agreement and thus confirm the Wigner surmise for the exciton system.

Protein States as Symmetry Transitions in the Correlation Matrices

Over the last few years, there has been significant progress in the knowledge on protein folding. However, some aspects of protein folding still need further attention. One of these is the exact relationship between the folded and unfolded states and the differences between them. Whereas the folded state is well known, at least from a structural point of view (just think of the thousands of structures in online databases), the unfolded state is more elusive. Also, these are dynamic states of matter, and this aspect cannot be overlooked. Molecular dynamics-derived correlation matrices are an invaluable source of information on the protein dynamics. Here, bulk eigenvalue spectra of the correlation matrices obtained from the Trp-cage dynamics in the folded and unfolded states have been analyzed. The associated modes represent localized vibrations and are significantly affected by the fine details of the structure and interactions. Therefore, these bulk modes can be used as probes of the protein local dynamics in different states. The results of these analyses show that the correlation matrices describing the folded and unfolded dynamics belong to different symmetry classes. This finding provides new support to the phase-transition models of protein folding.

Accuracy and range of validity of the Wigner surmise for mixed symmetry classes in random matrix theory

Schierenberg et al. [Phys. Rev. E 85, 061130 (2012)] recently applied the Wigner surmise, i.e., substitution of ∞ × ∞ matrices by their 2 × 2 counterparts for the computation of level spacing distributions, to random matrix ensembles in transition between two universality classes. I examine the accuracy and the range of validity of the surmise for the crossover between the Gaussian orthogonal and unitary ensembles by contrasting them with the large-N results that I evaluated using the Nyström-type method for the Fredholm determinant. The surmised expression at the best-fitting parameter provides a good approximation for 0 </~ s </~ 2, i.e., the validity range of the original surmise.