Finite Range Integral Representation of Sommerfeld Integral for Homogeneous Dielectric Half-Space and Complete Uniform Asymptotic Expansion

Abstract

Since the existing integral representations of the Sommerfeld integral (SI) are of the (semi) infinite type, a numerical error is inevitable due to the truncation of the integral range. In this article, a new finite range integral representation of the SI is formulated based on the exact image theory. To derive the new representation, a finite range integral expression of the exact image current is first derived. The radiated field by the exact image current is expressed in terms of a double integral in the complex domain where the exact image current flows. One of the two integrals is a semiinfinite line integral along the current path. This integral is deformed into a more convenient form as the exact image representation for the impedance plane. To convert the line source in the complex domain into a line source in the real domain, the path-deformation technique is again applied. The final line source consists of three line segments along which the exact image current flows vertically from the image source point to ±∞. In addition to the line source, a lateral wave component is also obtained. The impedance exact image representation can be evaluated as a closed-form expression in terms of an incomplete cylindrical function. Thus, the SI can be represented as the finite range integral of the incomplete cylindrical function. To efficiently evaluate the proposed integral, a complete uniform asymptotic expansion is formulated. All the proposed formulations are numerically verified, including, in some cases, near-Earth propagation, and their behaviors are investigated. Also, the electric field is computed for a vertical and horizontal infinitesimal dipole and compared by the exact Sommerfeld and known approximate formulations.