Experimental versus numerical eigenvalues of a Bunimovich stadium billiard: A comparison

We compare the statistical properties of eigenvalue sequences for a gamma = 1 Bunimovich stadium billiard. The eigenvalues have been obtained in two w ays: one set results from a measurement of the eigenfrequencies of a superc onducting microwave resonator (real system), and the other set is calculate d numerically (ideal System). We show influence of mechanical imperfections of the real system in the analysis of the spectral fluctuations and in the length spectra compared to the exact data of the ideal system. We also dis cuss the influence of a family of marginally stable orbits, the bouncing ba ll orbits, in two microwave stadium billiards with different geometrical di mensions. [S1063-651X(99)12309-2].