We discuss signatures of quantum chaos in terms of distributions of nodal points, saddle points, and streamlines for coherent electron transport through two-dimensional billiards, which are either nominally integrable or chaotic. As typical examples of the two cases we select rectangular and Sinai billiards. We have numerically evaluted distribution functions for nearest distances between nodal points and found that there is a generic form for open chaotic billiards through which a net current is passed. We have also evaluated the distribution functions for nodal points with specific vorticity (winding number) as well as for saddle points. The distributions may be used as signatures of quantum chaos in open systems. All distributions are well reproduced using random complex linear combinations of nearly monochromatic states in nominally closed billiards. In the case of rectangular billiards with simple sharp-cornered leads the distributions have characteristic features related to order among the nodal points. A flaring or rounding of the contact regions may, however, induce a crossover to nodal point distributions and current flow typical for quantum chaos. For an irregular arrangement of nodal points, as for example in the Sinai billiard, the quantum flow lines become very complex and volatile, recalling chaos among classical trajectories. Similarities with percolation are pointed out.

• Received 22 December 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.66.016218