Asymptotic Theory of Electromagnetic and Acoustic Diffraction by Smooth Convex Surfaces of Variable Curvature

Abstract

A general method is presented for obtaining successive terms in short wavelength asymptotic expansions of the diffracted field produced by plane acoustic and electromagnetic waves incident on an arbitrary smooth convex surface. By introducing the geodesic coordinate system on arbitrary surfaces of non‐constant curvature, both scalar and vector integral equations governing the surface fields are solved directly. The expressions for leading and second‐order terms in the asymptotic expansion of the diffracted fields are obtained explicitly and the differences between acoustic and electromagnetic creeping waves are shown.