The periodically kicked quantum spin

It is shown that the same kind of deterministic chaos that occurs in classical systems can occur in certain quantum mechanical, many-body systems. The example of the physical realization of the periodically kicked quantum spin (PKQS) is considered in detail. The quantum mechanical equations of motion for this system can be converted into the three-dimensional PKQS map, which exhibits deterministic chaos and Arnold diffusion. Although the case of quantum spin s= 1/2 is assumed, it is shown that the same map results for s=1 (but not for s>/=3/2), and for a suitably chosen classical particle with orbital angular momentum. A simple generalization of the PKQS model gives rise to stochastic webs on the surface of the unit sphere very similar to the Zaslavsky stochastic webs in a plane.