The unusual nature of the quantum Baker's transformation (Q1175262)

The quantum Baker's transformation was introduced in the papers of \textit{N. L. Balazs} and \textit{A. Voros} [Europhys. Lett. 4, 1089 (1987); and Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 190, 1 (1989)] as a paradigm for studies of the asymptotic nature of simple quantum mechanical systems whose classical analogues are chaotic. This quantum map was later slightly modified by \textit{M. Saraceno} [Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 199, 37 (1990)]. The well-known classical Baker's transformation acts upon a compact two-dimensional phase space. The authors introduce the essential properties of both the classical and quantum maps and briefly review what is known to date from studies of Balazs, Voros and Saraceno. The authors develop a semiclassical theory of the dynamics, good to times logarithmic in \(\hbar\), in the form of a wave packet dynamics. They explore the nature and extent of the ``scarring'' of eigenstates by periodic orbits. The consequences for the implied heavy eigenfunction scarring and for the trace of the propagator are compared to the quantum results. Unexpectedly, the semiclassical trace remains accurate beyond this logarithmic time. Some exotic quantum properties are found that cannot be explained by the short time semiclassics. Some unusual features are revealed including super-Poissonian level statistics and large recurrences in the trace of the propagator. These are seen to be two manifestations of a common quantum origin which seem to be contained in the semiclassical trace of the propagator. Many of the unusual behaviors have a strong and peculiar \(\hbar\) dependence.