Decoherence for classically chaotic quantum maps

Abstract

We study the behavior of an open quantum system, with an $N$--dimensional space of states, whose density matrix evolves according to a non--unitary map defined in two steps: A unitary step, where the system evolves with an evolution operator obtained by quantizing a classically chaotic map (baker's and Harper's map are the two examples we consider). A non--unitary step where the evolution operator for the density matrix mimics the effect of diffusion in the semiclassical (large $N$) limit. The process of decoherence and the transition from quantum to classical behavior are analyzed in detail by means of numerical and analitic tools. The existence of a regime where the entropy grows with a rate which is independent of the strength of the diffusion coefficient is demonstrated. The nature of the processes that determine the production of entropy is analyzed.