Manifestation of classical orbits in nuclei, metal clusters and quantum dots

We first give a short outline of the semiclassical periodic orbit theory that allows one to relate quantum shell fluctuations in a mean-field system to the periodic orbits of the corresponding classical system. Earlier applications to gross-shell effects in nuclei (ground-state deformations), metal clusters (ground-state deformations and supershells), and quantum dots (conductance oscillations in weak magnetic fields) are briefly summarized. We then report on a recent simple and transparent semiclassical interpretation of the origin of the mass asymmetry in the fission of heavy nuclei. Using only a few classical periodic orbits and a cavity model for the nuclear mean field, we explain the onset of left-right asymmetric shapes at the fission isomer minimum by the principle of constant action of the shortest orbits.