Timescales in Reactive Chaotic Scattering

Abstract.

 In reactive chaotic scattering, the relative importance of the different channels, in terms of probability, is measured classically or semi-classically by integrals over finite areas in phase space. These areas arise in a finite time on a well chosen surface. This is contrasted to periodic orbit theory or spectral properties, that need a very long time to be defined, as compared to mean interaction times.