THE GEODESIC CONSTANT METHOD - A NOVEL-APPROACH TO ANALYTICAL SURFACE-RAY TRACING ON CONVEX CONDUCTING BODIES

A generalized approach to analytical surface-ray tracing in three dime nsions, and a review of its application to convex conducting bodies, i s presented, using the Eisenhart Coordinate System. The ray-parameters so obtained, for quadric cylinders (QUACYLs) and surfaces of revoluti on (QUASORs), are in a one-parameter form for UTD mutual-coupling appl ications. The ray analysis is also extended to the hybrid QUACYLs (e.g ., aircraft wings) and hybrid QUASORs (e.g., satellite-launch vehicles ), by introducing Hertz's principle of particle dynamics to EM theory. This mathematical formulation is applicable even to other important n on-Eisenhart surfaces, such as the ogive. A summary of the mathematica l formulations is included.