Scattering from Spatially Localized Chaotic and Disordered Systems

A version of scattering theory that was developed many years ago to treat nuclear scattering processes, has provided a powerful tool to study universality in scattering processes involving open quantum systems with underlying classically chaotic dynamics. Recently, it has been used to make random matrix theory predictions concerning the statistical properties of scattering resonances in mesoscopic electron waveguides and electromagnetic waveguides. We provide a simple derivation of this scattering theory and we compare its predictions to those obtained from an exactly solvable scattering model; and we use it to study the scattering of a particle wave from a random potential. This method may prove useful in distinguishing the effects of chaos from the effects of disorder in real scattering processes.Comment: 24 pages, 11 figures typos added. Published in 'Foundation of physics' February issu

Relaxation rates of the linearized Uehling-Uhlenbeck equation for bosons

We linearize the Uehling-Uhlenbeck equation for bosonic gases close to thermal equilibrium under the assumption of a contact interaction characterized by a scattering length a. We show that the spectrum of relaxation rates is similar to that of a classical hard-sphere gas. However, the relaxation rates show a significant dependence on the fugacity z of the gas, increasing by as much as 60% of their classical value for z approaching 1. The relaxation modes are also significantly altered at higher values of z. The relaxation rates and modes are determined by the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a Fredholm integral operator of the second kind. We derive an analytical form for the kernel of this operator and present numerical results for the first few eigenvalues and eigenvectors.Robert A. Welch Foundation F-1051Physic

Quantum diffusion of dipole-oriented indirect excitons in coupled quantum wells

A model for diffusion of statistically-degenerate excitons in (coupled) quantum wells is proposed and analysed. Within a microscopic approach, we derive a quantum diffusion equation, calculate and estimate the self-diffusion coefficient for excitons in quantum wells and derive a modified Einstein relation adapted to statistically-degenerated quasi-two-dimensional bosons. It is also shown that the dipole-dipole interaction of indirect excitons effectively screens long-range-correlated disorder in quantum wells. Numerical calculations are given for indirect excitons in GaAs/AlGaAs coupled quantum wells.Comment: To appear in Europhysics Letter

Scaling behavior in a quantum wire with scatterers

We study the conductance properties of a straight two-dimensional quantum wire with impurities modeled by $s$-like scatterers. Their presence can lead to strong inter-channel coupling. It was shown that such systems depend sensitively on the number of transverse modes included. Based on a poor man's scaling technique we include the effect of higher modes in a renormalized coupling constant. We therefore show that the low-energy behavior of the wire is dominated by only a few modes, which hence is a way to reduce the necessary computing power. The technique is successfully applied to the case of one and two $s$-like scatterers.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures included; to be published in Phys. Rev.

Chaos assisted adiabatic passage

We study the exact dynamics underlying stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) for a particle in a multi-level anharmonic system (the infinite square-well) driven by two sequential laser pulses, each with constant carrier frequency. In phase space regions where the laser pulses create chaos, the particle can be transferred coherently into energy states different from those predicted by traditional STIRAP. It appears that a transition to chaos can provide a new tool to control the outcome of STIRAP