The limiting absorption principle and a radiation condition for the scattering by a periodic layer

Scattering of time-harmonic waves from periodic structures at some fixed real-valued wave number becomes analytically difficult whenever there arise surface waves: These non-zero solutions to the homogeneous scattering problem physically correspond to modes propagating along the periodic structure and clearly imply non-uniqueness of any solution to the scattering problem. In this paper, we consider a medium that is defined in the upper two-dimensional half-space by a penetrable and periodic contrast. We prove that there is a so-called limiting absorption solution to the associated scattering problem. By definition, such a solution is the limit of a sequence of unique solutions for artificial complex-valued wave numbers tending to the above-mentioned real-valued wave number. Our method of proof seems to be new: By the Floquet-Bloch transform we first reduce the scattering problem to a finite-dimensional one that is set in the linear space spanned by all surface waves. In this space, we then compute explicitly which modes propagate along the periodic structure to the left or to the right. This finally yields a representation for our limiting absorption solution which leads to a proper extension of the well known upward propagating radiation condition. Finally, we prove uniqueness of a solution under this radiation condition

The limiting absorption principle and a radiation condition for the scattering by a periodic layer

Scattering of time-harmonic waves from periodic structures at some fixed real-valued wave number becomes analytically diffcult whenever there arise surface waves: These non-zero solutions to the homogeneous scattering problem physically correspond to modes propagating along the periodic structure and clearly imply non-uniqueness of any solution to the scattering problem. In this paper, we consider a medium that is defined in the upper two-dimensional half-space by a penetrable and periodic contrast. We prove that there is a so-called limiting absorption solution to the associated scattering problem. By definition, such a solution is the limit of a sequence of unique solutions for artificial complex-valued wave numbers tending to the above-mentioned real-valued wave number. Our method of proof seems to be new: By the Floquet-Bloch transform we first reduce the scattering problem to a finite-dimensional one that is set in the linear space spanned by all surface waves. In this space, we then compute explicitly which modes propagate along the periodic structure to the left or to the right. This finally yields a representation for our limiting absorption solution which leads to a proper extension of the well known upward propagating radiation condition. Finally, we prove uniqueness of a solution under this radiation condition

Numerical methods for scattering problems in periodic waveguides

In this paper, we propose new numerical methods for scattering problems in periodic waveguides. Based on [20], the “physically meaningful” solution, which is obtained via the Limiting Absorption Principle (LAP) and is called an LAP solution, is written as an integral of quasi-periodic solutions on a contour. The definition of the contour depends both on the wavenumber and the periodic structure. The contour integral is then written as the combination of finite propagation modes and a contour integral on a small circle. Numerical methods are developed and based on the two representations. Compared with other numerical methods, we do not need the LAP process during numerical approximations, thus a standard error estimation is easily carried out. Based on this method, we also develop a numerical solver for halfguide problems. The method is based on the result that any LAP solution of a halfguide problem can be extended to the LAP solution of a fullguide problem. At the end of this paper, we also give some numerical results to show the efficiency of our numerical methods

A scattering problem for a local perturbation of an open periodic waveguide

In this paper, we consider the propagation of waves in an open waveguide in ℝ$^{2}$ where the index of refraction is a local perturbation of a function which is periodic along the axis of the waveguide (which we choose to be the x$_{1}$ axis) and equal to one for |x$_{2}$| > h$_{0}$ for some h$_{0}$  >  0. Motivated by the limiting absorption principle (proven in an earlier paper by the author), we formulate a radiation condition which allows the existence of propagating modes and prove uniqueness, existence, and stability of a solution under the assumption that no bound states exist. In the second part, we determine the order of decay of the radiating part of the solution in the direction of the layer and in the direction orthogonal to it. Finally, we show that it satisfies the classical Sommerfeld radiation condition and allows the definition of a far field pattern

Radiation conditions for the Helmholtz equation in a half plane filled by inhomogeneous periodic material

In this paper we consider time-harmonic acoustic wave propagation in a half-plane filled by inhomogeneous periodic medium. If the refractive index depends on the horizontal coordinate only, we define upward and downward radiating modes by solving a one-dimensional Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problem with a complex-valued periodic coefficient. The upward and downward radiation conditions are introduced based on a generalized Rayleigh series. Using the variational method, we then prove uniqueness and existence for the scattering of an incoming wave mode by a grating located between an upper and lower half plane with such inhomogeneous periodic media. Finally, we discuss the application of the new radiation conditions to the scattering matrix algorithm, i.e., to rigorous coupled wave analysis or Fourier modal method