Diffraction Pattern of Microwaves Near Rods

Abstract

The diffraction patterns of electromagnetic waves in the neighborhood of rods a half‐wave long have been calculated from rigorous electromagnetic theory and checked with 8‐cm microwaves. This was the one case in which the patterns could be calculated at short distances from the diffracting objects without undue difficulty. The agreement of measurements and exact theory was sufficient to suggest that microwave measurements within a few wavelengths of diffracting objects will be a fruitful approach to diffraction problems. Heretofore most calculations of diffraction patterns at large distances have been based on blind assumptions as to the distribution of intensity near the diffracting apertures and objects.