DYNAMICS OF SINGLE-PARTICLE NUCLEON MOTION

The dynamics of classical motion of a nucleus is investigated. The Ham iltonian consists of harmonic oscillator potential and spin orbit coup ling. It is shown that the classical dynamics of the nucleon motion in such a mean field is very rich. The trajectories live in submanifolds with dimensions ranging from 3 to 6, depending on initial conditions and control parameters. This reflects a transition from ordered to cha otic dynamics. The calculated Poincare sections, Lyapunov exponents, c orrelation dimensions and power spectra describe quantitatively this t ransition.