Misleading signatures of quantum chaos

Abstract

The main signature of chaos in a quantum system is provided by spectral statistical analysis of the nearest neighbor spacing distribution and the spectral rigidity given by $Δ_3(L)$. It is shown that some standard unfolding procedures, like local unfolding and Gaussian broadening, lead to a spurious increase of the spectral rigidity that spoils the $Δ_3(L)$ relationship with the regular or chaotic motion of the system. This effect can also be misinterpreted as Berry's saturation.

4 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Physical Review E