Hybrid nonlinear resonance in Hamiltonian systems.

An electronic system in an atom can be considered Hamiltonian only at times shorter than the spontaneous relaxation time. However, this time is sufficient for resonant action on the electronic system and for the implementation of the resonance inherent in Hamiltonian systems. In practice, there may be a case when it is expedient to use a hybrid approach to study nonlinear resonance, in which the classical theory can be used to calculate the action-dependent nonlinear resonance frequency, and the quantum theory can be used to calculate its correction. The use of such a hybrid approach becomes necessary when the resonant value of the action does not exceed Planck's constant many times. It is shown in the work that if the external electromagnetic field has the form of a periodic series of light pulses with a high duty cycle, then the phenomenon of nonlinear hybrid resonance leads to the appearance of a line in the low-frequency region of the electronic spectrum. The broadening of this line is determined using the rms quantum fluctuations.

On the dynamics of the angular momentum of a quantum pendulum.

The Mathieu-Schrödinger equation, which describes the behavior of a quantum pendulum, depending on the value of the parameter l (pendulum filament length), can have the symmetry of the Klein's four-group or its invariant subgroups. The paper shows that the mean values of z-components of the angular momentum of nondegenerate quantum states (the symmetry region of the four-group) tend to zero and their root mean square fluctuations are non-zero. Consequently, in this region of parameter values, the fluctuations overlap the mean values of the angular momentum and they become indistinguishable. Therefore, it can be argued that if, with an increase in the parameter, the system goes into a non-degenerate state, then after the inversion of the parameter change and the transition to the region of degenerate states, the initial states will not be restored. This behavior of the average values of angular momenta is caused by the combined actions of two factors: discontinuous change in the system at the points of change of its symmetry and the presence of quantum fluctuations in nondegenerate states.

Quantum corrections to the classical model of the atom-field system.

The nonlinear-oscillating system in action-angle variables is characterized by the dependence of frequency of oscillation ω(I) on action I. Periodic perturbation is capable of realizing in the system a stable nonlinear resonance at which the action I adapts to the resonance condition ω(I(0))≃ω, that is, "sticking" in the resonance frequency. For a particular physical problem there may be a case when I≫ℏ is the classical quantity, whereas its correction ΔI≃ℏ is the quantum quantity. Naturally, dynamics of ΔI is described by the quantum equation of motion. In particular, in the moderate nonlinearity approximation ɛ≪(dω/dI)(I/ω)≪1/ɛ, where ɛ is the small parameter, the description of quantum state is reduced to the solution of the Mathieu-Schrödinger equation. The state formed as a result of sticking in resonance is an eigenstate of the operator ΔI that does not commute with the Hamiltonian H. Expanding the eigenstate wave functions in Hamiltonian eigenfunctions, one can obtain a probability distribution of energy level population. Thus, an inverse level population for times lower than the relaxation time can be obtained.

Irreversible evolution of quantum chaos.

The pendulum is the simplest system having all the basic properties inherent in dynamic stochastic systems. In the present paper we investigate the pendulum with the aim to reveal the properties of a quantum analogue of dynamic stochasticity or, in other words, to obtain the basic properties of quantum chaos. It is shown that a periodic perturbation of the quantum pendulum (similarly to the classical one) in the neighborhood of the separatrix can bring about irreversible phenomena. As a result of recurrent passages between degenerate states, the system gets self-chaotized and passes from the pure state to the mixed one. Chaotization involves the states, the branch points of whose levels participate in a slow "drift" of the system along the Mathieu characteristics this "drift" being caused by a slowly changing variable field. Recurrent relations are obtained for populations of levels participating in the irreversible evolution process. It is shown that the entropy of the system first grows and, after reaching the equilibrium state, acquires a constant value.

Quantum-mechanical research on nonlinear resonance and the problem of quantum chaos.

The quantum-mechanical investigation of nonlinear resonance in terms of approximation to moderate nonlinearity is reduced to the investigation of eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of the Mathieu-Schrodinger equation. The eigenstates of the Mathieu-Schrodinger equation are nondegenerate in a certain area of pumping amplitude values in the neighborhood of the classical separatrix. Outside this area, the system finds itself in a degenerate state for both small and large pumping amplitude values. Degenerate energy terms arise as a result of merging and branching of pairs of nondegenerate energy terms. Equations are obtained for finding the merging points of energy terms. These equations are solved by numerical methods. The main objective of this paper is to establish a quantum analog of the classical stochastic layer formed in the separatrix area. With this end in view, we consider a nonstationary quantum-mechanical problem of perturbation of the state of the Mathieu-Schrodinger equation. It is shown that in passing through the branching point the system may pass from the pure state to the mixed one. At multiple passages through branching points there develops the irreversible process of "creeping" of the system to quantum states. In that case, the observed population of a certain number of levels can be considered, in our opinion, to be a quantum analog of the stochastic layer. The number of populated levels is defined by a perturbation amplitude.

Overlapping of nonlinear resonances and the problem of quantum chaos.

The motion of a nonlinearly oscillating particle under the influence of a periodic sequence of short impulses is investigated. We analyze the Schrödinger equation for the universal Hamiltonian. It is shown that the quantum criterion of overlapping of resonances is of the form lambdaK>or=1, where K is the classical coefficient of stochasticity and lambda is the functional defined with the use of Mathieu functions. The area of the maximal values of lambda is determined. The idea about the emerging of quantum chaos due to the adiabatic motion along the curves of Mathieu characteristics at multiple passages through the points of branching is advanced.