Generalized Debye series for acoustic scattering from objects of separable geometric shape (Q1288703)

In a classical paper in 1908, Debye has expanded the electromagnetic field scattered by a dielectric cylinder into a series of waves multiply internally reflected by the cylinder. For acoustic scattering by elastic cylinders, the corresponding series was derived from the conventional solution by \textit{D. Brill} and \textit{H. Überall} [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 50, 921-939 (1972; Zbl 0224.73023)], taking into account mode conversions of longitudinal into transverse waves, or vice versa, and internal scattering. Hier this approach is simplified by introducing local reflection and transmission coefficients at each interface, which is suitable for generalizing Debye series to the case of elastic waves coupled by continuity conditions at the external and each of any possible (multiple) internal interfaces of the scattering object. The method is then applied to elastic objects for which surface and interfaces form coordinate surfaces of any separable geometry. The derivation is given in the most general form, and is illustrated by examples of an elastic plate, infinite cylinder and sphere.