Radio Wave Propagation in Stratified Media with Nonuniform Boundaries and Varying Electromagnetic Parameters: Full Wave Analysis

Abstract

Full wave solutions are derived to the problem of radio wave propagation in stratified media with non-uniform boundaries and varying electromagnetic parameters. The analysis employs a complete set of forward and backward travelling waves. The continuous parts of the wavenumber spectrum constitute the radiation field and the lateral waves, and the discrete part of the spectrum is identified as the surface wave term. The solutions are not restricted by the approximate surface impedance concept and the source and receiver can be situated on opposite sides of the interface. Exact boundary conditions are imposed and the solutions are shown to be consistent with the reciprocity relationships.