Diffraction of Plane Electromagnetic Waves by a Cylinder

Abstract

This chapter discusses the mathematics underlying the diffraction of plane electromagnetic waves by a cylinder. Radio signals may undergo diffraction. A signal that encounters an obstacle tends to travel around it, suggesting that a signal may be received from a transmitter even though it may be “shaded” by a large object between them. This phenomenon is best explained by the Huygen's principle, according to which each point on a spherical wave front can be interpreted as a source of a secondary wave front. The chapter first examines electric polarization by considering normally incident plane waves incident on the cylinder (parallel to the z-axis of the cylinder) before turning to classical diffraction, Huygen's principle, and the Kirchhoff-Huygens diffraction integral. It also shows the derivation of the generalized Airy diffraction pattern.