Initial Dirichlet problem for half-plane diffraction: Global formulae for its generalized eigenfunctions, explicit solution by the Cagniard-de Hoop method (Q1301253)

Although in our days many diffraction problems are solved numerically, the possibility to obtain closed-form solutions is, however, of importance. The present paper provides a closed-form solution for diffraction of plane wave by the soft/soft Sommerfed plane defined by \(x>0\), \(y=\pm 0\). The problem is time-dependent: the plane wave begins to act from \(t=0\). Two approaches are employed: the first one by applying the Cagniard-de Hoop method to the generalized Wiener-Hopf solution, and the second one by the Laplace transform. The two approaches are shown to provide the same solution. The technique developed in the paper could be used to solve other diffraction problems.