On the T-matrix for water-wave scattering problems (Q761291)

A rigid cylinder of infinite length is floating in the free surface of deep water. The cylinder is held fixed and a given time-harmonic wave of small amplitude is incident upon it. The corresponding linear two- dimensional boundary-value problem for a velocity potential \(\Phi\) is treated using the null-field method, and an expression for the T-matrix is obtained. (The T-matrix connects the diffraction potential away from the cylinder to the given incident potential.) Fundamental properties of the T-matrix are derived from considerations of energy and reciprocity. For regular wavetrains incident from the right or from the left, there are well-known relations between the corresponding reflection and transmission coefficients; these relations are recovered by specialising the equations satisfied by the T-matrix. Two extensions to water of constant finite depth are described: one uses multipole potentials whilst the other uses Havelock wavemaker functions; this second approach also leads to a new method for treating the problem of waves in a semi- infinite channel with an end-wall of arbitrary shape.