Propagation of the radiofrequency ground wave transient over a finitely conducting plane earth

Abstract

The introduction of precision radio navigation systems employing pulse techniques and the ever increasing interest in spherics have stimulated considerable interest in the propagation of the ground wave transient over the surface of the earth. The theory of the propagation of a transient radio frequency ground wave over a finitely conducting plane earth is presented for the particular case of theNorton surface wave by a consideration of a wave, interrupted abruptly at one point in time (t=0), a wave interrupted abruptly at two points in time (t=0,T2) and a wave interrupted at one point in time followed by an exponential decay. The first case is illustrated by several numerical examples of a cosine current wave applied to a vertical electric dipole source. It is apparent that the method of the inverse Ľaplace transform for the particular cases considered yields some simple mathematical formulas.