Ericson fluctuations in an open deterministic quantum system: theory meets experiment

Phys Rev Lett. 2005 Dec 31;95(26):263601. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.263601. Epub 2005 Dec 20.

Abstract

We provide numerically exact photoexcitation cross sections of rubidium Rydberg states in crossed, static electric, and magnetic fields, in quantitative agreement with recent experimental results. Their spectral backbone underpins a clear transition towards the Ericson regime, associated with a universal, fluctuating behavior of the cross section of strongly coupled, fragmenting quantum systems.