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George Contopoulos

Publications and source records attributed to George Contopoulos.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Limits of the Formal Integrals of Motion

We consider a formal (approximate) integral of motion in Hamiltonians of the form $H=\frac{1}{2}(X^2+Y^2+\omega_1^2x^2+\omega_2^2y^2)+\epsilon(\eta xy^2+\alpha x^3+\beta x^2y+\gamma y^3)$ generalizing previous cases with $\beta=\gamma=0$. First we give the general form of this integral when $\omega_1/\omega_2$ is irrational and then we consider the case of commensurable frequencies. In particular we study the integrals for the resonances $\omega_1/\omega_2=4/1, 5/1, 3/2, 4/3, 3/1$ and $2/1$. We also calculate the invariant curves and the orbits in the cases $\omega_1/\omega_2=2/1$ and $1/1$ (with $\beta=\gamma=0$) and we compare the exact-numerical and the theoretical results predicted by the formal integral when $\beta\gamma\neq0$. In the special case $\omega_1/\omega_2=1/1$ we find an integral when $\beta=\gamma=0$ and $\eta\alpha\neq0$ or $\eta=\alpha=0$ and $\beta\gamma\neq 0$, but this is not possible when $\eta\alpha\beta\gamma\neq 0$. However, we find that the invariant curves and the orbits can be approximated by a non-resonant integral with $\omega_1/\omega_2=5\sqrt{2}/7=1.010\dots$.

nlin.CD

Orbits in the integrable H\'enon-Heiles systems

We study in detail the form of the orbits in integrable generalized H\'enon-Heiles systems with Hamiltonians of the form $H = \frac{1}{2}(\dot{x}^2 + Ax^2 + \dot{y}^2 + By^2) + \epsilon(xy^2 + \alpha x^3).$ In particular, we focus on the invariant curves on Poincar\'e surfaces of section ($ y = 0$) and the corresponding orbits on the $x-y$ plane. We provide a detailed analysis of the transition from bounded to escaping orbits in each integrable system case, highlighting the mechanism behind the escape to infinity. Then, we investigate the form of the non-escaping orbits, conducting a comparative analysis across various integrable cases and physical parameters.

nlin.CD

Bohmian Chaos and Entanglement in a Two-Qubit System

We study in detail the critical points of Bohmian flow, both in the inertial frame of reference (Y-points) and in the frames centered at the moving nodal points of the guiding wavefunction (X-points), and analyze their role in the onset of chaos in a system of two entangled qubits. We find the distances between these critical points and a moving Bohmian particle at varying levels of entanglement, with particular emphasis on the times at which chaos arises. Then, we find why some trajectories are ordered, without any chaos. Finally, we examine numerically how the Lyapunov Characteristic Number (LCN ) depends on the degree of quantum entanglement. Our results indicate that increasing entanglement reduces the convergence time of the finite-time LCN of the chaotic trajectories toward its final positive value.

quant-ph

Classical and Bohmian trajectories in integrable and non integrable systems

In the present paper we study the classical and the quantum H\'enon-Heiles systems. In particular we make a comparison between the classical and the quantum trajectories of the integrable and of the non integrable H\'enon Heiles Hamiltonian. From a classical standpoint, we study theoretically and numerically the form of the invariant curves in the Poincar\'e surfaces of section for several values of the coupling parameter of the integrable case and compare them with those of the non integrable case. Then we study the corresponding Bohmian trajectories and we find that they are chaotic in both cases, but chaos emerges at different times.

nlin.CD

A comparison between classical and Bohmian quantum chaos

We study the emergence of chaos in a 2d system corresponding to a classical Hamiltonian system $V= \frac{1}{2}(\omega_x^2x^2+\omega_y^2y^2)+\epsilon xy^2$ consisting of two interacting harmonic oscillators and compare the classical and the Bohmian quantum trajectories for increasing values of $\epsilon$. In particular we present an initial quantum state composed of two coherent states in $x$ and $y$, which in the absence of interaction produces ordered trajectories (Lissajous figures) and an initial state which contains {both chaotic and ordered} trajectories for $\epsilon=0$. In both cases we find that, in general, Bohmian trajectories become chaotic in the long run, but chaos emerges at times which depend on the strength of the interaction between the oscillators.

quant-ph

Dynamics of quantum observables and Born's rule in Bohmian Quantum Mechanics

We investigate both ordered and chaotic Bohmian trajectories within the Born distribution of Bohmian particles of an anisotropic 2d quantum harmonic oscillator. We compute the average values of energy, momentum, angular momentum, and position using both Standard Quantum Mechanics and Bohmian Mechanics. In particular, we examine realizations of the Born distribution for a wavefunction with a single nodal point and two different wavefunctions with multiple nodal points: one with an almost equal number of ordered and chaotic trajectories, and another composed primarily of chaotic trajectories. Throughout our analysis, we focus on elucidating the contribution of ordered and chaotic Bohmian trajectories in determining these average values.

quant-ph

Periodic orbits in a near Yang-Mills potential

We consider the orbits in the Yang-Mills (YM) potential V=1/2 x2 y2 and in the potentials of the general form Vg=1/2 [{\alpha} (x2 +y2)+x2 y2]. The stable period-9 (number of intersection with the x-axis, with ) orbit found in the YM potential is a bifurcation of a basic period-9 orbit of the Vg potential for a value of {\alpha} slightly above zero. This basic period-9 family and its bifurcations exist only up to a maximum value of {\alpha}={\alpha}max. We calculate the Henon stability index of these orbits. The pattern of the stability diagram is the same for all the symmetric orbits of odd periods 3,5,7,9 and 11. We also found the stability diagrams for asymmetric orbits of period 2,3,4,5 which have again the same pattern. All these orbits are unstable for {\alpha}=0 (YM potential). These new results indicate that in the YM potential the only stable orbits are those of period-9 and some orbits with multiples of 9 periods.

nlin.CD

The spiral arms of galaxies

The most important theory of the spiral arms of galaxies is the density wave theory based on the Lin-Shu dispersion relation. However, the density waves move with the group velocity towards the inner Lindblad resonance and tend to disappear. Various mechanisms to replenish the spiral waves have been proposed. Nonlinear effects play an important role near the inner and outer Lindblad resonances and corotation. The orbits supporting the spiral arms are precessing ellipses in normal galaxies that extend up to the 4/1 resonance. On the other hand, in barred galaxies the spiral arms extend along the manifolds of the unstable periodic orbits at the ends of the bar and they are composed of chaotic orbits. However these chaotic orbits can be found analytically.

astro-ph.GA

Interference with non-interacting free particles and a special type of detector

We develop a classical picture of interference for non-interacting individual classical massive free particles. As long as they remain undetected, particles carry the information of a phase equal to an action integral along their trajectory. At the point of their detection, a special type of detector collects the phases from all individual particles reaching it, adds them up over time as complex numbers, and divides them by the square root of their number. The detector announces a number of detections equal to the square of the amplitude of the resulting complex number. An interference pattern is gradually built from the collection of particle phases in the detection bins of the detector after several repetitions of the experiment. We obtain perfect agreement with three solutions of the Schr\"odinger equation for free particles: a Gaussian wavepacket, two Gaussian wavepackets approaching each other, and a Gaussian wavepacket reflecting off a wall.

quant-ph

Chaotic trajectories in complex Bohmian systems

We consider the Bohmian trajectories in a 2-d quantum harmonic oscillator with non commensurable frequencies whose wavefunction is of the form $\Psi=a\Psi_{m_1,n_1}(x,y)+b\Psi_{m_2,n_2}(x,y)+c\Psi_{m_3,n_3}(x,y)$. We first find the trajectories of the nodal points for different combinations of the quantum numbers $m,n$. Then we study, in detail, a case with relatively large quantum numbers and two equal $m's$. We find %We find first the nodal points where $\Psi=0$. The nodes can be found analytically only if $m$ and $n$ are small. If two $m's$ (or two $n's$ are equal we can find explicitly the nodal points , which are of two types (1) fixed nodes independent of time and (2) moving nodes which from time to time collide with the fixed nodes and at particular times they go to infinity. Finally, we study the trajectories of quantum particles close to the nodal points and observe, for the first time, how chaos is generated in a complex system with multiple nodes scattered on the configuration space.

quant-ph

Chaos in 2-d Bohmian Trajectories

We make a short review of the most general mechanism for the generation of chaos in 2-d Bohmian trajectories, the so called `nodal point-X-point complex' (NPXPC) mechanism. The presentation is based on numerical calculations made with Maple and is enriched with new results on the details of the generation of chaos, and the form of the potential around the NPXPC.

nlin.CD

Chaos and ergodicity in entangled non-ideal Bohmian qubits

We study the Bohmian dynamics of a large class of bipartite systems of non-ideal qubit systems, by modifying the basic physical parameters of an ideal two-qubit system, made of coherent states of the quantum harmonic oscillator. First we study the case of coherent states with truncated energy levels and large amplitudes. Then we study non-truncated coherent states but with small amplitudes and finally a combination of the above cases. In all cases we find that the chaotic Bohmian trajectories are approximately ergodic. We also study the number and the spatial arrangement of the nodal points of the wavefunction and their role both in the formation of chaotic-ergodic trajectories, and in the emergence of ordered trajectories. Our results have strong implications on the dynamical establishment of Born's rule.

quant-ph

The role of chaotic and ordered trajectories in establishing Born's rule

We study in detail the trajectories, ordered and chaotic, of two entangled Bohmian qubits when their initial preparation satisfies (or not) Born's rule for various amounts of quantum entanglement. For any non zero value of entanglement ordered and chaotic trajectories coexist and the proportion of ordered trajectories increases with the decrease of the entanglement. In the extreme cases of zero and maximum entanglement we have only ordered and chaotic trajectories correspondingly. The chaotic trajectories of this model are ergodic, for any given value of entanglement, namely the limiting distribution of their points does not depend on their initial conditions. Consequently it is the ratio between ordered and chaotic trajectories which is responsible for the dynamical establishment (or not) of Born's rule.

quant-ph

Integrals of Motion in Time-periodic Hamiltonian Systems: The Case of the Mathieu Equation

We present an algorithm for constructing analytically approximate integrals of motion in simple time periodic Hamiltonians of the form $H=H_0+ \varepsilon H_i$, where $\varepsilon$ is a perturbation parameter. We apply our algorithm in a Hamiltonian system whose dynamics is governed by the Mathieu equation and examine in detail the orbits and their stroboscopic invariant curves for different values of $\varepsilon$. We find the values of $\varepsilon_{crit}$ beyond which the orbits escape to infinity and construct integrals which are expressed as series in the perturbation $\varepsilon$ and converge up to $\varepsilon_{crit}$. In the absence of resonances the invariant curves are concentric ellipses which are approximated very well by our integrals. Finally we construct an integral of motion which describes the hyperbolic stroboscopic invariant curve of a resonant case.

math-ph

Chaos in Bohmian Quantum Mechanics: A short review

This is a short review in the theory of chaos in Bohmian Quantum Mechanics based on our series of works in this field. Our first result is the development of a generic theoretical mechanism responsible for the generation of chaos in an arbitrary Bohmian system (in 2 and 3 dimensions). This mechanism allows us to explore the effect of chaos on Bohmian trajectories and study in detail (both analytically and numerically) the different kinds of Bohmian trajectories where, in general, chaos and order coexist. Finally we explore the effect of quantum entanglement on the evolution of the Bohmian trajectories and study chaos and ergodicity in qubit systems which are of great theoretical and practical interest. We find that the chaotic trajectories are also ergodic, i.e. they give the same final distribution of their points after a long time regardless of their initial conditions. In the case of strong entanglement most trajectories are chaotic and ergodic and an arbitrary initial distribution of particles will tends to Born's rule over the course of time. On the other hand, in the case of weak entanglement the distribution of Born's rule is dominated by ordered trajectories and consequently an arbitrary initial configuration of particles will not tend, in general, to Born's rule, unless it is initially satisfied. Our results shed light on a fundamental problem in Bohmian Mechanics, namely whether there is a dynamical approximation of Born's rule by an arbitrary initial distribution of Bohmian particles.

quant-ph

Chaos and ergodicity in an entangled two-qubit Bohmian system

We study in detail the onset of chaos and the probability measures formed by individual Bohmian trajectories in entangled states of two-qubit systems for various degrees of entanglement. The qubit systems consist of coherent states of 1-d harmonic oscillators with irrational frequencies. In weakly entangled states chaos is manifested through the sudden jumps of the Bohmian trajectories between successive Lissajous-like figures. These jumps are succesfully interpreted by the `nodal point-X-point complex' mechanism. In strongly entangled states, the chaotic form of the Bohmian trajectories is manifested after a short time. We then study the mixing properties of ensembles of Bohmian trajectories with initial conditions satisfying Born's rule. The trajectory points are initially distributed in two sets $S_1$ and $S_2$ with disjoint supports but they exhibit, over the course of time, abrupt mixing whenever they encounter the nodal points of the wavefunction. Then a substantial fraction of trajectory points is exchanged between $S_1$ and $S_2$, without violating Born's rule. Finally, we provide strong numerical indications that, in this system, the main effect of the entanglement is the establishment of ergodicity in the individual Bohmian trajectories as $t\to\infty$: different initial conditions result to the same limiting distribution of trajectory points.

quant-ph

Bohmian trajectories in an entangled two-qubit system

In this paper we examine the evolution of Bohmian trajectories in the presence of quantum entanglement. We study a simple two-qubit system composed of two coherent states and investigate the impact of quantum entanglement on chaotic and ordered trajectories via both numerical and analytical calculations.

quant-ph

Characteristic times in the standard map

We study and compare three characteristic times of the standard map, the Lyapunov time t_L, the Poincare recurrence time t_r and the stickiness (or escape) time t_{st}. The Lyapunov time is the inverse of the Lyapunov characteristic number LCN and in general is quite small. We find empirical relations for the LCN as a function of the nonlinearity parameter K and of the chaotic area A. We also find empirical relations for the Poincare recurrence time t_r as a function of the nonlinearity parameter K, of the chaotic area A and of the size of the box of initial conditions e. As a consequence we find relations between t_r and LCN. We compare the distributions of the stickiness time and the Poincare recurrence time. The stickiness time inside the sticky regions at the boundary of the islands of stability is orders of magnitude smaller than the Poincare recurrence time t_r and this affects the diffusion exponent mu, which converges always to the value mu=1. This is shown in an extreme stickiness case. The diffusion is anomalous (ballistic motion) inside the accelerator mode islands of stability with mu=2 but it is normal everywhere outside the islands with mu=1. In a particular case of extreme stickiness we find the hierarchy of islands around islands.

nlin.CD