Abstract
The excitation of surface waves by a plane electromagnetic wave incident on a wedge is investigated. It is assumed that the impedances of the two wedge surfaces are constant and the mathematical problem is the solution of Helmholtz's equation outside a wedge on whose surfaces impedance conditions are satisfied. If one impedance is zero then it is shown that, provided the other impedance is such that it supports surface waves, these will be excited unless the ratio (exterior wedge angle)/π is 1/2n, where n is an integer. If the impedances of both surfaces are non-zero and independent then surface waves are excited except when the above ratio is 1/n. For only one impedance non-zero explicit forms are deduced for the amplitude of the surface wave for large and small values of the impedance. The solution may also be employed for the diffraction of anH-polarized plane wave by a metallic wedge.
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