Complex wave-interference phenomena: From the atomic nucleus to mesoscopicsystems to microwave cavities

Universal statistical aspects of wave scattering by a variety of physical s ystems ranging from atomic nuclei to mesoscopic systems and microwave cavit ies are described. A statistical model for the scattering matrix is employe d to address the problem of quantum chaotic scattering. The model, introduc ed in the past in the context of nuclear physics. discusses the problem in terms of a prompt and an equilibrated component: it incorporates the averag e value of the scattering matrix to account for the prompt processes and sa tisfies the requirements of flux conservation, causality and ergodicity. Th e main application of the model is the analysis of electronic transport thr ough ballistic mesoscopic cavities: it describes well the results from the numerical solutions of the Schrodinger equation for two-dimensional cavitie s.