Diffraction – Definition and Pronunciation
What is Diffraction?
Diffraction is the deviation of an electromagnetic wavefront from the path predicted by geometric optics when the wavefront interacts with, that is, is restricted by, a physical object such as an opening (aperture) or an edge. Note: Diffraction is usually most noticeable for openings of the order of a wavelength; however, diffraction may still be important for apertures many orders of magnitude larger than the wavelength.
Examples of Diffraction
WASIM can be run in both a fully linear mode and in a non-linear mode. The transfer functions are derived from linear computations by Fourier analysis. The implemented non-linear option still solves the linear radiation and diffraction problem.
From “Det Norske Veritas Fatigue Analysis of Natural Gas Carriers”.
The standard propagation conditions can be characterised by the presence of two regions: the so-called line-of-sight (LOS) region, where the radio signal in the receiver has contributions from the direct wave and the wave reflected from the earth’s surface; and the shadow region where the radio signal arrives as a result of diffraction over the earth surface.
From “Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Basics of the Propagation Mechanisms”.
The asymptotic solution to the problem of the diffraction of a plane monochromatic wave over a sphere of large radius, compared with the wavelength of radiation, was obtained by Fock in 1945.
From “Understanding Parabolic Approximation in Wave Propagation: Analytical Methods and Applications”.
Pronunciation of Diffraction
