Abstract. Gutzwiller's trace formula for the semiclassical density of states in a chaotic system diverges near bifurcations of periodic orbits, where it must be replaced with uniform approximations. It is well known that, when applying these approximations, complex predecessors of orbits created in the bifurcation (`ghost orbits') can produce pronounced signatures in the semiclassical spectra in the vicinity of the bifurcation. It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate that these ghost orbits can also undergo bifurcations, resulting in complex, nongeneric bifurcation scenarios. We do so by studying an example taken from the diamagnetic Kepler problem, namely the period quadrupling of the balloon orbit. By application of normal form theory we construct an analytic description of the complete bifurcation scenario, which is then used to calculate the pertinent uniform approximation. The ghost orbit bifurcation turns out to produce signatures in the semiclassical spectrum in much the same way as a bifurcation of real orbits would.

Print publication: Issue 16 (23 April 1999)
Received 22 December 1998, in final form 4 February 1999