Universal and nonuniversal properties of wave-chaotic scattering systems

Prediction of the statistics of scattering in typical wave-chaotic systems requires combining system-specific information with universal aspects of chaotic scattering as described by random matrix theory. This Rapid Communication shows that the average impedance matrix, which characterizes such system-specific properties, can be semiclassically calculated in terms of ray trajectories between ports. Theoretical predictions are compared with experimental results for a microwave billiard, demonstrating that the theory successfully uncovered universal statistics of wave-chaotic scattering systems.