On chaos in quantum mechanics: the two meanings of sensitive dependence

Abstract

Sensitive dependence on initial conditions, the most important signature of chaos, can mean failure of Lyapunov stability, the primary meaning adopted in dynamical systems theory, or the presence of positive Lyapunov exponents, the meaning favored in physics. These are not equivalent in general. We show that there is sensitive dependence in quantum mechanics in the sense of violation of Lyapunov stability for maps of the state vector like 〈 A〉 involving unbounded operators A. This is true even for bounded quantum systems, where the corresponding Lyapunov exponents are all zero. Experiments to reveal this sensitive dependence, a definite though unfamiliar prediction of quantum mechanics, should be devised. It may also invalidate the usual assumptions of linear response theory in quantum statistical mechanics in some cases.