Wigner function probe of quantum chaos in complex collisions

Abstract:
We study Schrödinger cat states in bimolecular chemical reactions. The time for disappearance of the interference fringes is estimated from heuristic arguments related to fingerprints of chaotic dynamics of a classical counterpart of the rotating complex. Validity of this estimate is confirmed by the analysis of the Wigner function for a number of bimolecular reactions. Thus we demonstrate the quantum-classical transition in temporal behavior of highly excited quantum many-body systems in the absence of external noise and coupling to an environment.