English

WKB Propagation of Gaussian Wavepackets

Chaotic Dynamics 2009-11-13 v2

Abstract

We analyze the semiclassical evolution of Gaussian wavepackets in chaotic systems. We prove that after some short time a Gaussian wavepacket becomes a primitive WKB state. From then on, the state can be propagated using the standard TDWKB scheme. Complex trajectories are not necessary to account for the long-time propagation. The Wigner function of the evolving state develops the structure of a classical filament plus quantum oscillations, with phase and amplitude being determined by geometric properties of a classical manifold.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0707.2423,
  title  = {WKB Propagation of Gaussian Wavepackets},
  author = {Raphael N. P. Maia and Fernando Nicacio and Raul O. Vallejos and Fabricio Toscano},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0707.2423},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

4 pages, 4 figures; significant improvements

R2 v1 2026-06-21T08:58:53.309Z