Classical Paths and Semiclassical Ghosts |
| F. Haake Fachbereich Physik, Universität GH Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany |
| Dedicated to Prof. Iwo Białynicki-Birula on the occasion of his 60th birthday |
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| The semiclassical approximation for the quantum propagator of the kicked top is shown to involve not only classical periodic orbits but also complex generalizations thereof. Such ghost trajectories have complex actions S and thus contribute exponentially small terms as ħ → O. However, close to bifurcations ImS can be very small whereupon ghosts become quite visible. |
| DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.85.693 PACS numbers: 03.65.Sq, 05.45.+b |