The Quantum Kicked Rotor: A Paradigm of Quantum Chaos. Foundational aspects and new perspectives

TL;DR

The paper reviews the kicked rotor model as a fundamental example of quantum chaos, covering classical-quantum transitions, experimental realizations, and recent advanced topics like topological features and non-Hermitian physics.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of foundational concepts, experimental implementations, and recent developments in the study of the quantum kicked rotor.

Findings

Illustrates the transition from regular to chaotic motion in classical systems.

Describes quantum phenomena such as dynamical localization and resonances.

Highlights recent topics like topological features and non-Hermitian extensions.

Abstract

The kicked rotor provides a simple yet powerful model for introducing many of the central concepts of classical and quantum chaos. Despite its apparent simplicity, it exhibits rich dynamical behavior and has found applications across a wide range of fields, including atomic and optical physics, condensed matter physics, and emerging quantum technologies. This chapter begins by exploring foundational ideas using the kicked rotor as a unifying framework. We first discuss the transition from regular to chaotic motion in the classical system, and then introduce key quantum phenomena such as dynamical localization and quantum resonances. Special attention is devoted to the emergence of characteristic time scales and their role in the quantum-classical correspondence. To make these ideas more concrete, we also provide a brief overview of experimental realizations of the kicked rotor and its variants, illustrating how theoretical concepts are implemented in practice. In the second part of the chapter, we guide the reader toward more recent and advanced developments. Topics include near-resonant dynamics, topological features of kicked systems, the emergence of quantum dynamical phases inferred from classical transport properties, and extensions to non-Hermitian physics. We conclude with a discussion of open problems and future perspectives, outlining directions in which the kicked rotor continues to offer valuable insights.