A uniform double diffraction coefficient

Abstract

An approach is developed which expands the diffracted field as a bundle of inhomogeneous plane waves each of which is diffracted separately. The analysis leads to a result in terms of double Fresnel integrals which can be evaluated efficiently by various means. In addition to geometrical generality, this double diffraction coefficient is simple to apply, since it is directly related to the product of two single diffraction coefficients. Each of 16 terms of the new formulation corresponds to one of the 16 terms obtained when two single-wedge diffraction coefficients are multiplied as in a mechanical application of UTD (uniform theory of diffraction) to double-wedge diffraction. For terms not in transition, the new formulation reduces to the UTD product, term by term. The geometry of two perfectly conducting wedges is shown, and their separation is indicated. A comparison between the new theory and the straightforward application of UTD is presented.<>