Analysis of v.l.f. propagation in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide over a mixed land/sea path. Part I

Using a rather idealized ionospheric model, the conversion of v.l.f. waveguide modes is considered for a discontinuity in the Earth´s surface properties. The method is based principally on a Wiener-Hopf formulation, although the connection with an earlier integral equation formulation and modal analysis technique is demonstrated. The second and concluding part of the paper giving numerical results for the modal parameters and the conversion coefficients will be published in the November-December 1970 issue of the Proceedings.