Scattering of Acoustic Waves by a Periodic Array of Scatterers

Gaurav Maurya
March 24, 2015

Abstract
Wave scattering is a phenomenon in which a wave field interacts with physical objects. An incoming
wave is scattered at the surface of the object and a scattered wave is produced. Common practical cases
are acoustic, electromagnetic and elastic wave scattering. The study of scattering process is important, for
example, in noise control, antenna design, prediction of RADAR cross sections and nondestructive testing.
Here, a simple study of wave scattering by a periodic array has been done in order to display the usefulness
of difference equations and their ease of handling a problem.

Introduction

When waves are intercepted by a physical boundary, reflection and scattering occur. Since in principle any
transient signal can be represented as Fourier intergral of simple harmonic waves within a wide spectrum of
frequencies, it is a basic problem to study scattering of waves.
For acoustic waves in a continuum, the velocity potential defined by v = , satisfies
1 2
= 2 ,
c2 t2

(1)

where c denotes the wave phase velocity, is a function of space and time.
The equation (1) is subjected to prescribed boundary conditions on the surface of a scatterer. Without any
loss of generality, we can assume that the time-dependent part of is separable from the space-dependent part,
i.e.,
= u(x, y)eit ,

(2)

where is the frequency of incoming wave.

From this variable seperation we obtain a differential equation for u, i.e.,
2 u(x, y) + k 2 u(x, y) = 0,

(3)

where k is the wave number.

This equation is called the Helmholtz equation. In polar coordinate system (r, ),

x = r cos ,

y = r sin ,
the equation (3) can be written as
1 2 u(r, )
2 u(r, ) 1 u(r, )
+
+
+ k 2 u(r, ) = 0.
r2
r r
r2 2

(4)

Scattering by an object has been the focus of research in physics, electrical, acoustical and oceanographical
engineering for a long time. Depending on the geometry, the mathematics can be quite involved. We will limit
our focus to the two dimensional space.
When there is a situation of wave scattering, the total resultant wave is the sum of incident and scattered
waves, i.e.,

u = uI + uS .

(5)

The scattered waves must also satisfy the Sommerfeld radiation condition at infinity, i.e., it can only radiate
energy outward from the scatterer.
In the coming section, we will study the scattering of acoustic wave by a circular cylindrical scatterer and then
scattering of waves by a periodic array of scatterer of the same geometry.

Scattering of Waves

In this section we will obtain the relations for waves scattered through the surface of circular cylinders.

 o
o

Figure 1: Periodic Array of Circular Cylinders.

2.1

Scattering by a Single Circular Cylinder

Consider a cylindrical scatterer with a circular cross-section with radius a. The boundary condition on the
cylinder surface is
u
= 0.
r

(6)

We employ polar coordinates here and as such, use equation (4). Both uI and uS satisfy this equation.
Let the incident wave uI be a plane wave inclined at the angle of incidence o with respect to the positive x
axis. Then,
uI = eikx cos o +iky sin o = eikr cos(o ) .

(7)

The plane wave can be expanded in Fourier-Bessel series:

eikr cos(o ) =

X
n=0

n in Jn (kr) cos( o ),

(8)

where n is the Jacobi symbol:

o = 0, n = 2, n = 1, 2, 3, ...
Each summand in the equation (7) is called the partial wave.

Using the method of variable separation we

can write
uS = R(r)().
3

(9)

We find
r2 R00 + rR0 + (k 2 r2 n2 )R = 0, 00 + n2 = 0,

(10)

where n = 0, 1, 2, ... are the eigenvalues in order that is periodic in with period 2. For each eigenvalue n
the possible solutions are
n = (sin n, cos n), Rn = (Hn(1) , Hn(2) ),
(1)

(2)

where Hn , Hn

are Hankel functions of the first and second kind.

(11)

Then, the most general solution to the

Helmholtz equation corresponding to the scattered wave is given as

uS = A

(An sin n + Bn cos n)[Cn Hn(1) (kr) + Dn Hn(2) (kr)],

(12)

n=0

For large radius the asymptotic form of the Hankel functions behave as
r
Hn(1)

2 i(kr n )
4
2 ,
e
Hn(2)
kr

2 i(kr n )
4
2
e
kr

(1)

(2)

In conjunction with the time factor eit , Hn gives outgoing wave while Hn give incoming waves. To satisfy
(2)

the radiation condition, we must discard all terms involving Hn . Thus, the scattered wave now becomes
uS = A

(An sin n + Bn cos n)Hn (kr).

(13)

n=0

Now applying the boundary condition at the surface of the cylinder, i.e., at r = a, we get
An = 0, Bn = n in

Jn0 (ka)
.
Hn0 (ka)

Thus,
u=A



J 0 (ka)
n in Jn (kr) n0
Hn (kr) cos n,
Hn (ka)
n=0

(14)

and
= Aeit

2.2



J 0 (ka)
n in Jn (kr) n0
Hn (kr) cos n.
Hn (ka)
n=0

(15)

Scattering by a Periodic Array of Circular Cylinders

We consider the two-dimensional problem of the scattering of a plane wave by a periodic array of an infinite
number of parallel circular cylinders as shown in Figure 1. Corresponding points of adjacent cylinders are
4

separated a distance d along the y-axis. We write the total field, similar to that of equation (5) but with little
modifications, as

(r) = o (r) + U (r),

(16)

where U is the total scattered wave and it is expressed as a superposition of the waves scattered by the
individual cylinders. The wave scattered by sth cylinder is to fulfill the radiation condition that it be outgoing
from s as |r sd| . The total scattered wave U (r) is to fulfill the radiation condition that it consistof
outgoing waves and it be bounded as r . The total field (r) satisfies the same wave equation subjected
to same boundary conditions as o (r) outside the scatterers.

References
[1] V. Twersky, On Scattering of Waves by the Infinite Grating of Circular Cylinders. IRE Transactions
on Antennas and Propagation, 1962.
[2] V. Twersky, On Scattering of Waves by the Infinite Grating . Electromagnetic Wave Theory Symposium.
[3] V. Twersky, Multiple Scattering of Waves and Optical Phenomen. Journal of Optical Society of Americal, 1962.
[4] V. Twersky, On Scattering of Waves by the Infinite Grating of Circular Cylinders. IRE Transactions
on Antennas and Propagation, 1962.
[5] V. Twersky, Multiple Scattering of Sound by a Periodic Line of Obstacle. Acoustical Society of America.,
1971.
[6] L. Brillouin, Wave Propagation in Periodic Structures., 1946.
[7] MIT OpenCourseWare.