Chaos and statistical relaxation in quantum systems of interacting particles

L. F. Santos, F. Borgonovi, F. M. Izrailev

Published 2011-10-20Version 1

We propose a method to study the transition to chaos in isolated quantum systems of interacting particles. It is based on the concept of delocalization of eigenstates in the energy shell, controlled by the Gaussian form of the strength function. We show that although the fluctuations of energy levels in integrable and non-integrable systems are principally different, global properties of the eigenstates may be quite similar, provided the interaction between particles exceeds some critical value. In this case the quench dynamics can be described analytically, demonstrating the universal statistical relaxation of the systems irrespectively of whether they are integrable or not.