Eigenvalue Statistics for CMV Matrices: From Poisson to Clock via Circular Beta Ensembles

We study CMV matrices (a discrete one-dimensional Dirac-type operator) with random decaying coefficients. Under mild assumptions we identify the local eigenvalue statistics in the natural scaling limit. For rapidly decreasing coefficients, the eigenvalues have rigid spacing (like the numerals on a clock); in the case of slow decrease, the eigenvalues are distributed according to a Poisson process. For a certain critical rate of decay we obtain the circular beta ensembles of random matrix theory. The temperature \beta^{-1} appears as the square of the coupling constant.