Scalar Diffraction Theory

Abstract

Diffraction is an important topic in the study of the propagation of electromagnetic waves. For a wave that is incident on an aperture in an opaque screen, the propagation of the wave in front of the screen is called diffraction. In fact the propagation of wave beams with finite transverse dimensions can also be treated by means of the approach for diffraction problems. Diffraction is a common phenomenon of wave propagation. The diffraction law based on scalar theory had been established before J.C. Maxwell established his systematic electromagnetic theory.