A Method of Simulating Propagation Problems

Problems relating to reflection, refraction (including continuously variable index of refraction), or scattering can be simulated by propagating centimeter-wave energy in a large sheet of low-loss dielectric material. The conditions of the problem are set up by imbedding objects in the sheet, varying its thickness, or coating its surfaces. One surface of the sheet is then scanned with the probe of a phase-front plotter, and lines of equal phase are recorded on a separate sheet of paper. The behavior of the energy can be judged from the recording so obtained.