Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 October 2008
It has been shown in recent years ((5)–(8), (10)) that it is possible to obtain closed form solutions for the time harmonic wave equation when a linear combination of the wave function and its normal derivative is prescribed on the surface of a wedge. Boundary-value problems of this type occur in the problem of diffraction by a highly conducting wedge or by a wedge whose surfaces are thinly coated with dielectric. In certain circumstances such surfaces can support surface waves and one important aspect of the solution of the boundary-value problem is the determination of the amplitude of the surface wave excited.