Resonant Tunnelling Studies of Chaos in Quantised Systems

This paper gives a brief introductory overview of quantum chaology, with particular reference to recent experimental work involving the use of semiconductor heterostructures. In the presence of a tilted magnetic field, a double-barrier resonant-tunnelling device incorporating a quantum well produces a chaotic stadium for electron motion. The basic properties of this system are described. It is shown how resonant magnetotunnelling spectroscopy provides firm experimental evidence for the effect of scarred wave functions on a physically-measurable property, in this case the measured current-voltage characteristics of the device. The paper concludes with some speculations concerning for the development of this field.