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Onset of Quantum Chaos in Random Field Theories

We study the quantum Lyapunov exponent $λ_L$ in theories with spacetime-independent disorder. We first derive self-consistency equations for the two- and four-point functions for products of $N$ models coupled by disorder at large $N$, generalizing the equations appearing in SYK-like models. We then study families of theories in which the disorder coupling is an exactly marginal deformation, allowing us to follow $λ_L$ from weak to strong coupling. We find interesting behaviors, including a discontinuous transition into chaos, mimicking classical KAM theory.