This book is the first complete and comprehensive description of the modern Physical Theory of Diffraction (PTD) based on the concept of elementary edge waves (EEWs). The theory is demonstrated with the example of the diffraction of acoustic and electromagnetic waves at perfectly reflecting objects. The derived analytic expressions clearly explain the physical structure of the scattered field and describe in detail all of the reflected and diffracted rays and beams, as well as the fields in the vicinity of caustics and foci. Shadow radiation, a new fundamental component of the field, is introduced and proven to contain half of the total scattered power.

Table of Contents:
Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgments. Introduction. 1. Basic Notions in Acoustic and Electromagnetic Diffraction Problems. 1.1 Formulation of the Diffraction Problem. 1.2 Scattered Field in the Far Zone. 1.3 Physical Optics. 1.4 Nonuniform Component of Induced Surface Field. 1.5 ElectromagneticWaves. Problems. 2. Wedge Diffraction: Exact Solution and Asymptotics. 2.1 Classical Solutions. 2.2 Transition to the PlaneWave Excitation. 2.3 Conversion of the Series Solution to the Sommerfeld Integrals. 2.4 The Sommerfeld Ray Asymptotics. 2.5 The Pauli Asymptotics. 2.6 Uniform Asymptotics: Extension of the Pauli Technique. 2.7 Comments on Alternative Asymptotics. Problems. 3. Wedge Diffraction: The Physical Optics Field. 3.1 Original PO Integrals. 3.2 Conversion of the PO Integrals to the Canonical Form. 3.3 Ray Asymptotics for the PO Diffracted Field. Problems. 4. Wedge Diffraction: Radiation by the Nonuniform Component of Surface Sources. 4.1 Integrals and Asymptotics. 4.2 Integral Form of Functions f (1) and g(1). 4.3 Oblique Incidence of a PlaneWave at aWedge. Problems. 5. First-Order Diffraction at Strips and Polygonal Cylinders. 5.1 Diffraction at a Strip. 5.2 Diffraction at a Triangular Cylinder. Problems. 6. Axially Symmetric Scattering of AcousticWaves at Bodies of Revolution. 6.1 Diffraction at a Canonical Conic Surface. 6.2 Scattering at a Disk. 6.3 Scattering at Cones: Focal Field. 6.4 Bodies of Revolution with Nonzero Gaussian Curvature: Backscattered Focal Fields. 6.5 Bodies of Revolution with Nonzero Gaussian Curvature: Axially Symmetric Bistatic Scattering. Problems. 7. Elementary Acoustic and Electromagnetic EdgeWaves. 7.1 Elementary Strips on a CanonicalWedge. 7.2 Integrals for j(1), s,h on Elementary Strips. 7.3 Triple Integrals for Elementary EdgeWaves. 7.4 Transformation of Triple Integrals into One-Dimensional Integrals. 7.5 General Asymptotics for Elementary EdgeWaves. 7.6 Analytic Properties of Elementary EdgeWaves. 7.7 Numerical Calculations of Elementary EdgeWaves. 7.8 Electromagnetic Elementary EdgeWaves. 7.9 Improved Theory of Elementary EdgeWaves. 7.10 Some References Related to Elementary EdgeWaves. Problems. 8. Ray and Caustics Asymptotics for Edge DiffractedWaves. 8.1 Ray Asymptotics. 8.2 Caustic Asymptotics. Problems. 9. Multiple Diffraction of EdgeWaves: Grazing Incidence and Slope Diffraction. 9.1 Statement of the Problem and Related References. 9.2 Grazing Diffraction. 9.3 Slope Diffraction in the Configuration of Figure 9.1. 9.4 Slope Diffraction: General Case. Problems. 10. Diffraction Interaction of Neighboring Edges on a Ruled Surface. 10.1 Diffraction at an Acoustically Hard Surface. 10.2 Diffraction at an Acoustically Soft Surface. 10.3 Diffraction of ElectromagneticWaves. Problems. 11. Focusing of Multiple Acoustic EdgeWaves Diffracted at a Convex Body of Revolution with a Flat Base. 11.1 Statement of the Problem and its Characteristic Features. 11.2 Multiple Hard Diffraction. 11.3 Multiple Soft Diffraction. Problems. 12. Focusing of Multiple EdgeWaves Diffracted at a Disk. 12.1 Multiple Hard Diffraction. 12.2 Multiple Soft Diffraction. 12.3 Multiple Diffraction of ElectromagneticWaves. Problems. 13. Backscattering at a Finite-Length Cylinder. 13.1 AcousticWaves. 13.2 ElectromagneticWaves. Problems. 14. Bistatic Scattering at a Finite-Length Cylinder. 14.1 AcousticWaves. 14.2 ElectromagneticWaves. Problems. Conclusion. References. Index.