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An integral representation of the wave field in inhomogeneous media in terms of diffracting component waves
Author(s) -
Zernov Nikolay N.,
Lundborg Bengt
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/95rs02452
Subject(s) - caustic (mathematics) , diffraction , component (thermodynamics) , representation (politics) , wave propagation , field (mathematics) , geometrical acoustics , physics , computational physics , statistical physics , optics , mathematical analysis , mathematics , quantum mechanics , politics , political science , law , pure mathematics
This paper gives a review of the advantages offered by an integral representation using diffracting component waves in solving wave propagation problems, deterministic as well as stochastic, in multiscale media. The component waves are constructed in such a way that they account for the diffraction on local inhomogeneities. As a result, the method presented here describes propagation effects which pertain to nonzero values of the wave parameter of the local inhomogeneities embedded in the smoothly inhomogeneous background medium. The technique involves in a natural way the concepts of complex rays and complex caustics. In random problems the method describes the influence of diffraction by local random inhomogeneities on the field also in the near‐caustic areas. The method given is particularly suitable for solving HF wave propagation problems in the disturbed ionosphere.