EXISTENCE, UNIQUENESS, AND CAUSALITY THEOREMS FOR WAVE-PROPAGATION INSTRATIFIED, TEMPORALLY DISPERSIVE, COMPLEX MEDIA

A mixed initial-boundary value problem for a nonlocal, hyperbolic equa tion is analyzed with respect to unique solubility and causality. The regularity of the step response and impulse response (the Green functi ons) is investigated, and a wave front theorem is proved. The problem arises, e.g., at time-varying, electromagnetic, plane wave excitation of stratified, temporally dispersive, bi-isotropic or anisotropic slab s. Concluding, the problem is uniquely solvable, strict causality hold s, and a well-defined wave front speed exists. This speed is independe nt of dispersion and excitation, and depends on the nondispersive prop erties of the medium only.