A quantum study of the dissociation dynamics of a kicked Morse oscillator reveals that the boundary separating the dissociation and nondissociation regions in the parameter space of the kicking strength and period is a highly oscillatory curve. Large fluctuations also occur in the lifetime distribution in the dissociation region. These features represent quantum manifestations of the fractal behavior seen in corresponding classical studies. Experimental relevance of this sensitive dependence on the field parameters is discussed.

• Received 17 October 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.43.1118