Chaos theory is a branch of mathematics that focuses on the behaviour of certain system that are very sensitive. Very small changes during the initial conditions can create big differences later on - this is essentially the butterfly effect.
Quantum chaos follows the same principle, but it focuses more on explaining the strangeness that occurs within atoms, such as how protons and neutrons behave like waves rather than particles.
Quantum chaos also has another level of complexity. "In chaotic quantum systems, the energy levels repel each other, and they affect each other even if they are far apart," said Vladimir Osipov, from Lund University.
Scientists have longed tried to make predictions on how quantum chaos behaves, but it's rather challenging due to chaotic systems being so sensitive. To come up with this unifying rule, the researchers used the fact that atoms give off energy levels that can be measured when they are in excited states to create this equation.
Read more about this fascinating story at: http://www.sciencealert.com/researchers-have-managed-to-fit-quantum-chaos-into-a-maths-equation
Image Credits: Robert Couse-Baked/Flickr
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