Modulation Transfer between Microwave Beams: Asymptotic Evaluation of Integrals with Pole Singularities near a First-Order Saddle Point

Abstract

Experimental results of delay-time measurements in the transfer of modulation between microwave beams, as reported in previous articles, were interpreted on a competition (interference) between two waves, one of which is modulated and the other is a continuous wave (c.w.). The creation of one of these waves was attributed to a saddle-point contribution, while the other was attributed to pole singularities. In this paper, such an assumption is justified by a quantitative field-amplitude analysis in order to make the modeling plausible. In particular, two ways of calculating field amplitudes are considered. These lead to results that are quantitatively markedly different, although qualitatively similar.