Distribution of reflection coefficients in absorbing chaotic microwave cavities

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Quantum Chaos
• Electromagnetism

Background:

• Chaotic microwave cavities exhibit complex electromagnetic behavior.
• Understanding reflection coefficient distributions is crucial for characterizing these systems.
• Time-reversal symmetry plays a key role in the statistical properties of quantum systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the distribution of reflection coefficients P(R) in chaotic microwave cavities.
• To compare experimental data with predictions from random-matrix theory.
• To analyze the influence of absorption and antenna coupling on these distributions.

Main Methods:

• Experimental measurements of reflection coefficients in microwave cavities.
• Varying antenna coupling (T(a)) and wall absorption strength (T(w)) regimes.
• Comparison of experimental distributions P(R) with random-matrix theory predictions.

Main Results:

• Excellent agreement was found between experimental distributions and random-matrix theory predictions.
• The agreement holds across different absorption and antenna coupling regimes.
• Antenna coupling T(a) and wall absorption T(w) were identified as critical parameters, determined independently.

Conclusions:

• Random-matrix theory accurately describes reflection coefficient distributions in chaotic microwave cavities.
• Accounting for antenna coupling and wall absorption is essential for this agreement.
• The study validates theoretical models using experimental data in complex electromagnetic systems.