Out-of-time-order correlator (OTOC) $langle [x(t),p]^2 rangle $ in an inverted harmonic oscillator (IHO) in one-dimensional quantum mechanics exhibits remarkable properties. The quantum Lyapunov exponent computed through the OTOC precisely agrees with the classical one. Besides, it does not show any quantum fluctuations for arbitrary states. Hence, the OTOC may be regarded as ideal indicators of the butterfly effect in the IHO. Since IHOs are ubiquitous in physics, these properties of the OTOCs might be seen in various situations too. In order to clarify this point, as a first step, we investigate the OTOCs in one dimensional quantum mechanics with polynomial potentials, which exhibit butterfly effects around the peak of the potential in classical mechanics. We find two situations in which the OTOCs show exponential growths reproducing the classical Lyapunov exponent of the peak. The first one, which is obvious, is using suitably localized states near the peak and the second one is taking a double scaling limit akin to the non-critical string theories.
Download