Action correlations and random matrix theory

Abstract

The correlations in the spectra of quantum systems are intimately related to correlations which are of genuine classical origin, and which appear in the spectra of actions of the classical periodic orbits of the corresponding classical systems. We review this duality and the semiclassical theory which brings it about. The conjecture that the quantum spectral statistics are described in terms of Random Matrix Theory, leads to the proposition that the classical two-point correlation function is given also in terms of a universal function. We study in detail the spectrum of actions of the Baker map, and use it to illustrate the steps needed to reveal the classical correlations, their origin and their relation to symbolic dynamics.