On the computation of quantum characteristic exponents

Abstract

A quantum characteristic exponent may be defined, with the same operational meaning as the classical Lyapunov exponent when the latter is expressed as a functional of densities. Existence conditions and supporting measure properties are discussed as well as the problems encountered in the numerical computation of the quantum exponents. Although an example of true quantum chaos may be exhibited, the taming effect of quantum mechanics on chaos is quite apparent in the computation of the quantum exponents. However, even when the exponents vanish, the functionals used for their definition may still provide a characterization of distinct complexity classes for quantum behavior.