Quantum resonances and decay of a chaotic fractal repeller observed using microwaves

Abstract

The quantum resonances of classically chaotic n-disk geometries were studied experimentally utilizing thin 2-D microwave geometries. The experiments yield the frequencies and widths of low-lying resonances, which are compared with semiclassical calculations. The longtime or small energy behavior of the wave-vector auto-correlation gives information about the quantum decay rate, which is in good agreement with that obtained from classical scattering theory. The intermediate energy behavior shows non-universal oscillations determined by periodic orbits.