Overview

Excerpt from Diffraction Theory: A Critique of Some Recent Developments During the fall semester of the academic year 1952-1953 Dr. C. J. Bouwkamp of the Philips Research Laboratories, Eindhoven, Netherlands served as a member of the Washington Square College Mathematics Research Group of New York University, Dr. Bouwkamp is, of course, well known for his research in electromagnetic theory and related fields. In recent months Dr. Bouwkamp has been surveying and assessing the literature on the subject of diffraction. The present report concentrates on papers related to the subject of diffraction by apertures. However, the report does not merely relate the efforts of numerous authors, but, where necessary, criticizes, emends, and pursues the consequences of their work. This study of the problem of diffraction illustrates very clearly the need for mathematical accuracy in the formulation and solution of physical problems. Because the diffraction problem is a difficult one, many authors have made plausible physical assumptions which simplify the procedure. Others have introduced reasonable mathematical approximations at some stage of their work. However, further mathematical analysis has shown many of these solutions to be inadequate; some are in error for certain ranges of wavelengths or in certain regions of space, and some lead to mathematical ambiguities or even inconsistencies, Dr. Bouwkamp's extensive investigations of these papers and his passion for accuracy (which is, however, tempered by a full appreciation of the present state of applied mathematics) have made apparent the limitations of many of the solutions that have been offered. His work exemplifies a valuable principle of scientific research, namely, that a published paper tells us where to concentrate our doubts. Those of us who were associated with Dr. Bouwkamp during his stay at New York University were rewarded both personally and scientifically. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Full Product Details

9781330157381

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available