Wavepacket Dynamics, Quantum Reversibility and Random Matrix Theory

TL;DR

This paper explores quantum irreversibility through driving reversal experiments, analyzing wavepacket dynamics and comparing predictions from Linear Response Theory and Random Matrix Theory, highlighting non-perturbative effects.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of driving reversal experiments as a practical approach to study quantum irreversibility and assesses the applicability of RMT and LRT in describing such phenomena.

Findings

RMT predicts strong non-perturbative response effects.

Driving reversal experiments are feasible in laboratory settings.

Differences between semiclassical and RMT predictions are identified.

Abstract

We introduce and analyze the physics of "driving reversal" experiments. These are prototype wavepacket dynamics scenarios probing quantum irreversibility. Unlike the mostly hypothetical "time reversal" concept, a "driving reversal" scenario can be realized in a laboratory experiment, and is relevant to the theory of quantum dissipation. We study both the energy spreading and the survival probability in such experiments. We also introduce and study the "compensation time" (time of maximum return) in such a scenario. Extensive effort is devoted to figuring out the capability of either Linear Response Theory (LRT) or Random Matrix Theory (RMT) in order to describe specific features of the time evolution. We explain that RMT modeling leads to a strong non-perturbative response effect that differs from the semiclassical behavior.