Abstract. A generic chaotic eigenfunction has a non-universal contribution consisting of scars of short periodic orbits. This contribution, which cannot be predicted by a model of random universal waves, survives the semiclassical limit (when goes to zero). In this limit, the sum of scarred intensities only depends on η ≡ (f − 1)(∑λ²_i)^1/2/h_T, with f the degrees of freedom, {λ_i} the set of positive Lyapunov exponents and h_T the topological entropy. Moreover, taking into account that relative fluctuations of the scarred intensities tend to zero as 1/|ln |, we are able to provide a detailed description of a generic chaotic eigenfunction in the semiclassical limit. Our conclusions were verified in the Bunimovich stadium billiard.

PACS numbers: 05.45.Mt, 03.65.Sq

Print publication: Issue 25 (25 June 2004)
Received 13 February 2004
Published 9 June 2004