Scattering by an object above a randomly rough surface from a fast numerical method: Extended PILE method combined with FB-SA

Abstract

In this paper, a fast exact numerical method, based on the method of moments, is developed to calculate the scattering by an object above a rough surface. N. Déchamps et al. have recently developed the PILE (Propagation-Inside-Layer Expansion) method for a stack of two one-dimensional rough interfaces separating homogeneous media. This method allows us to calculate separately and exactly the multiple scattering contributions inside the layer. This is done with a decomposition by block of the impedance matrix (the inverse of the impedance matrix of each interface and two coupling matrices are involved). The purpose of this paper is to extend the PILE method to the more general case of two illuminated surfaces and to apply it to an object located above a rough surface. In addition, to invert a matrix of large size, the Forward–Backward Spectral Acceleration (FB-SA) approach of complexity 𝒪(N) proposed by Chou and Johnson is applied. The new method, extended PILE combined with FB-SA, is tested on Perfectly Conducting (PC) circular and elliptic cylinders located above a rough surface (dielectric or PC) obeying a Gaussian process with Gaussian and exponential height autocorrelation functions.