We describe a wave-mechanical implementation of classically chaotic n-disk
scattering based on thin 2-D microwave cavities. Two, three, and four-disk
scattering are investigated in detail. The experiments, which are able to probe
the stationary Green's function of the system, yield both frequencies and
widths of the low-lying quantum resonances. The observed spectra are found to
be in good agreement with calculations based on semiclassical periodic orbit
theory. Wave-vector autocorrelation functions are analyzed for various
scattering geometries, the small wave-vector behavior allowing one to extract
the escape rate from the quantum repeller. Quantitative agreement is found with
the value predicted from classical scattering theory. For intermediate
energies, non-universal oscillations are detected in the autocorrelation
function, reflecting the presence of periodic orbits.Comment: 13 pages, 8 eps figures include