We study the spectral properties of the evolution operator of a quantum particle subject to a space-periodic time-dependent potential. Two qualitatively different regimes of the system dynamics are compared: case (i), when the spreading of the wave packet is asymptotically ballistic; and case (ii), when the wave packet spreads diffusively. As time increases, the spectrum is shown to approach Poisson statistics in case (i) and circular unitary ensemble statistics in case (ii). A scaling relation for the velocity and curvature distributions of the spectral bands are found.

• Received 13 January 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.56.2261