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Transition of a Coherent Classical Wave to Phase Incoherence

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Chaotic Behavior in Quantum Systems

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSB,volume 120))

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Abstract

A coherent wave may be characterized by a single-valued phase function. As the wave propagates, its rays twist and separate, causing its Lagrangian manifold k(x) to develop pleats. Thereby the phase becomes multivalued, and the wave may be termed incoherent. This process is analyzed by studying the local spectral density, which changes from a line spectrum to a continuous spectrum.

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References

  1. M. V. Berry, N. L. Balazs, M. Tabor, and A. Voros, “Quantum Maps,” Ann. Rhys. 122, 26 (1979).

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© 1985 Plenum Press, New York

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Kaufman, A.N., McDonald, S.W., Rosengaus, E. (1985). Transition of a Coherent Classical Wave to Phase Incoherence. In: Casati, G. (eds) Chaotic Behavior in Quantum Systems. NATO ASI Series, vol 120. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2443-0_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2443-0_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9485-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2443-0

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