Diffraction by an Aperture II (Classic Reprint)

Diffraction by an Aperture II explains how classic and newer methods compare for predicting how light bends and scatters when it passes through a small opening.

This edition focuses on a thin-screen aperture and contrasts the Kirchhoff method, its common modifications, Braunbek’s approach, and the geometrical theory of diffraction. Readable yet rigorous, it shows how each approach handles edge and multiple diffraction, and where they agree or diverge.

Designed for readers who want a clear view of the tools used to model diffracted fields, the book traces how these methods relate to Part I’s results and how they behave as wavelength changes. It also discusses the practical strengths and limitations of each method, including how they deal with corners and caustics.

• How the Kirchhoff and Braunbek methods approximate diffracted fields and where they differ from the geometrical theory
• Where multiple diffraction is essential for accurate results and why some methods miss it
• How edge effects are treated, including special cases like apertures with corners
• Why the geometrical theory can be simpler to use for many problems, yet still needs supplemental considerations on certain surfaces

Ideal for students and professionals in physics, optics, and engineering who want a clear, method-by-method understanding of aperture diffraction and its modeling tools.