Perturbative examination of avoided crossings

Abstract

Quantum perturbation theory is used to examine the eigenvalues of a nonseparable Hamiltonian system in the classically regular and irregular regimes. As a function of the perturbation parameter, the eigenvalues obtained by exact (matrix diagonalization) methods undergo an avoided crossing. In the present paper perturbation theory is used as an approximate method to predict the locations of such avoided crossings in energy-parameter space. The sparsity of such avoided crossings in the Hénon–Heiles system is seen to produce regular sequences in the eigenvalues even when the classical motion is predominantly chaotic.