Path-linking interpretation of Kirchhoff diffraction

Abstract

The Kirchhoff-diffraction integral is often used to describe the (scalar) wave field from a monochromatic point source in the presence of ‘opaque’ screens. Despite criticisms that can be made of its ‘derivation’, the Kirchhoff field is an exact solution of the wave equation, and exactly obeys definite, though unusual, boundary conditions (Kottler 1923, 1965). Here, the path-integral picture of wave fields is used to interpret the Kirchhoff-diffraction field in terms of all conceivable propagation paths, whether or not they pass through the opaque screens. Specifically, it is noted that the Kirchhoff field equals Ʃ(1 ─ m )ψ m , where the sum is over all integers m , and ψ m is the wave field due to all paths from the source to the field point for which the number of outward screen crossings minus the number of backwards screen crossings is m . Expressed more topologically, m is the total linking number of a path, when closed by any unobstructed path, with the screen edge lines. Other models of diffraction by screens are compared with Kirchhoff diffraction in the path interpretation.