Quantum mechanics

Chaotic

Mathematical physics

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

Computer science

Statistical physics

Universality (dynamical systems)

Random matrix

Physics

Quantum entanglement

Quantum dynamics

Integrable system

Artificial intelligence

Quantum

Quantum chaos

Dissipative system

Physical Review Letters

We study the transition between integrable and chaotic behavior in dissipative open quantum systems, exemplified by a boundary driven quantum spin chain. The repulsion between the complex eigenvalues of the corresponding Liouville operator in radial distance $s$ is used as a universal measure. The corresponding level spacing distribution is well fitted by that of a static two-dimensional Coulomb gas with harmonic potential at inverse temperature $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\in}[0,2]$. Here, $\ensuremath{\beta}=0$ yields the two-dimensional Poisson distribution, matching the integrable limit of the system, and $\ensuremath{\beta}=2$ equals the distribution obtained from the complex Ginibre ensemble, describing the fully chaotic limit. Our findings generalize the results of Grobe, Haake, and Sommers, who derived a universal cubic level repulsion for small spacings $s$. We collect mathematical evidence for the universality of the full level spacing distribution in the fully chaotic limit at $\ensuremath{\beta}=2$. It holds for all three Ginibre ensembles of random matrices with independent real, complex, or quaternion matrix elements.

Universal Signature from Integrability to Chaos in Dissipative Open Quantum Systems