TRANSIENT EXTERNAL 3D EXCITATION OF A DISPERSIVE AND ANISOTROPIC SLAB

Propagation of a transient electromagnetic field in a stratified, disp ersive and anisotropic slab, and related direct and inverse problems, are investigated. The field is generated by a transient external three -dimensional (3D) source. The analysis relies on the wave splitting co ncept and a two-dimensional Fourier transformation in the transverse s patial coordinates. An investigation of the physical properties of the split fields is made. To solve the direct and inverse scattering prob lems, wave propagators are used. This method is a generalization and a unification of the previously used imbedding and Green functions meth ods. The wave propagator approach provides an exact solution of the tr ansmission operator. From this solution it is possible to extract the first precursor (the Sommerfeld forerunner). These results also hold f or a bi-anisotropic slab. An inverse problem is outlined using reflect ion and transmission data corresponding to four, two-dimensional Fouri er parameters. Due to the stratification of the medium, the inverse Fo urier transformation is not needed in the inverse problem.