In physics, a surface wave can refer to a mechanical wave that propagates along the interface between differing media, usually two fluids with different densities. A surface wave can also be an electromagnetic wave guided by a refractive index gradient. In radio transmission, a ground wave is a surface wave that propagates close to the surface of the Earth. Physics (from the Greek, (phúsis), nature and (phusiké), knowledge of nature) is the science concerned with the discovery and understanding of the fundamental laws which govern matter, energy, space and time. ... A wave which needs a medium in order to propagate itself. ... Electromagnetic radiation is a propagating wave in space with electric and magnetic components. ... The refractive index (or index of refraction) of a material is the factor by which the phase velocity of electromagnetic radiation is slowed in that material, relative to its velocity in a vacuum. ... Horizontal line (use sparingly)d grade for the grade or gradient of roads and other geographic features. ... In telecommunications, transmission is the act of transmitting electrical messages (and the associated phenomena of radiant energy that passes through media). ... Earth (IPA: , often referred to as the Earth, Terra, the World or Planet Earth) is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth largest. ...

Mechanical waves

In seismology, mmkay types of surface waves are encountered. Surface waves, in this mechanical sense, are commonly known as either Love waves or Rayleigh waves. A seismic wave is a wave that travels through the Earth, often as the result of an earthquake or explosion. Love waves have transverse motion (movement is perpendicular to the direction of travel, like light waves), whereas Rayleigh waves have both longitudinal (movement parallel to the direction of travel, like sound waves) and transverse motion. Seismic waves are studied by seismologists and measured by a seismograph or seismometer. Surface waves span a wide frequency range, and the period of waves that are most damaging is usually 10 seconds or longer. Surface waves can travel around the globe many times from the quickest earthquakes. Seismology (from the Greek seismos = earthquake and logos = word) is the scientific study of earthquakes and the movement of waves through the Earth. ... . . p-wave and s-wave from seismograph A seismic wave is a wave that travels through the Earth, most often as the result of a tectonic earthquake, sometimes from an explosion. ... In seismology, Love waves (also named Q waves) are surface seismic waves that cause horizontal shifting of the earth during an earthquake. ... Rayleigh waves, also known as the Rayleigh-Lamb Wave or ground roll, are a type of surface wave associated on the Earth with earthquakes and subterranean movement of magma, or with any other source of seismic energy, such as an explosion or even a sledgehammer impact. ...

Surface wave can describe waves mmkay over an ocean, even when they are approximated by Airy functions and are more properly called creeping waves. Examples are the waves at the surface of water and air (ocean surface waves), or ripples in the sand at the interface with water or air. Another example is internal waves, which can be transmitted along the interface of two water masses of different densities. In mathematics, the Airy function Ai(x) is a special function, i. ... According to the principle of diffraction, when a wave front passes an obstruction, it spreads out into the shadowed space. ... A wave is a disturbance that propagates through space or spacetime, often transferring energy. ... Water is a tasteless, odourless substance that is essential to all known forms of life and is known as the universal solvent. ... AIR is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below: The Annals of Improbable Research, a monthly magazine devoted to scientific humour All India Radio - Indias Government Radio service AIR, a popular electronica band from France. ... Ocean waves Ocean surface waves are surface waves which occur at the surface of an ocean. ... Patterns in the sand Sand is a granular material made up of fine rock particles. ... Internal waves are gravity waves that oscillate due to the buoyancy force. ...

Electromagnetic waves

Ground waves refer to the propagation of radio waves close to or at the surface of the Earth. These surface waves are also known as Norton surface waves, Zenneck waves, Sommerfeld waves, or gliding waves. Radio propagation is a term used to explain how radio waves behave when they are transmitted, or are propagated from one point on the Earth to another. ...

Radio Propagation

Lower frequencies, especially AM broadcasts in the mediumwave (sometimes called "medium frequency") and longwave bands (and other types of radio even below that), travel efficiently as a surface wave. This is because they are more efficiently diffracted by the figure of the Earth due to their low frequencies. Ionospheric reflection is taken into consideration as well. The ionosphere reflects frequencies in a certain band, which often changes due to solar conditions. The Earth has one refractive index and the atmosphere has another, thus constituting an interface that supports the surface wave transmission. Sine waves of various frequencies; the bottom waves have higher frequencies than those above. ... [[Amplitude modulation]] (AM) is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a carrier wave wirelessly. ... Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and/or video signals (programs) to a number of recipients (listeners or viewers) that belong to a large group. ... Mediumwave radio transmissions serves as the most common band for broadcasting. ... The Longwave radio broadcasting band is the range of frequencies between 148. ... A band is a small section of the spectrum of radio communication frequencies, in which channels are usually used or set aside for the same purpose. ... Diffraction is the apparent bending and spreading of waves when they meet an obstruction. ... Relationship of the atmosphere and ionosphere The ionosphere is the part of the atmosphere that is ionized by solar radiation. ... An interface is a surface forming a common boundary between two substances forming a colloid, such as oil & water or water & air. ...

A longitudinal mode of a resonant cavity is a particular standing wave pattern formed by waves confined in the cavity. The longitudinal wave correspond to the wavelengths of which are reinforced by constructive interference after many reflections from the cavity's reflecting surfaces. The first six longitudinal modes of a plane-parallel cavity. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A standing wave, also known as a stationary wave, is a wave that remains in a constant position. ... The wavelength is the distance between repeating units of a wave pattern. ... Interference of two circular waves - Wavelength (decreasing bottom to top) and Wave centers distance (increasing to the right). ...

Conductivity of the surface affects the propagation of ground waves, with more conductive surfaces such as water providing better propogation. ^[1] alleviate Increase of the conductivity in the surface results in less dissipation. ^[2] The refractive indices are subject to spatial and temporal changes. Since the ground is not a perfect electrical conductor, ground waves are attenuated as they follow the earth’s surface.

Most long-distance LF "longwave" radio communication (between 30 and 300 kHz) is a result of groundwave propagation. Mediumwave radio transmissions (frequencies between 300 kHz and 3000 kHz) have the property of following the curvature of the earth (the groundwave) in the majority of occurrences. At low frequencies, ground losses are low and become lower at lower frequencies. The VLF and LF frequencies are mostly used for military communications, especially with ships and submarines. Low Frequency or LF refers to Radio Frequencies (RF) in the range of 30–300 kHz. ... Mediumwave radio transmissions serves as the most common band for broadcasting. ... Very low frequency or VLF refers to radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 3 to 30 kHz. ... Low Frequency or LF refers to Radio Frequencies (RF) in the range of 30–300 kHz. ...

Surface waves have been used in over-the-horizon radar. In the development of radio, surface waves were used extensively. Early commercial and professional radio services relied exclusively on long wave, low frequencies and ground-wave propagation. To prevent interference with these services, amateur and experimental transmitters were restricted to the higher (HF) frequencies, felt to be useless since their ground-wave range was limited. Upon discovery of the other propagation modes possible at medium wave and short wave frequencies, the advantages of HF for commercial and military purposes became apparent. Amateur experimentation was then confined only to authorized frequencies in the range. Over-The-Horizon radar (OTHR) is a design concept for radar system to overcome the problem that radio waves (a form of light) travel in a straight line, making over the horizon detection difficult. ... // Several men were involved in the invention of radio. ... Longwave radio frequencies are those below 500 kHz, which correspond to wavelengths longer than 600 meters. ... Mediumwave radio transmissions (sometimes called Medium frequency or MF) are those between the frequencies of 300 kHz and 3000 kHz. ... Shortwave radio operates between the frequencies of 3,000 kHz and 30 MHz (30,000 kHz) and came to be referred to as such in the early days of radio because the wavelengths associated with this frequency range were shorter than those commonly in use at that time. ...

Mediumwave can reflect off the ionosphere at night (skywave). Because the solar wind "blows" the ionosphere toward the Earth on the day side, and away from it on the night side, this natural radio "mirror" is much closer to the surface during the day. This prevents the high frequency's propagation from being very effective in daylight hours. At night, mediumwave and shortwave transmissions travel better by skywave. Ground waves do not include ionospheric and tropospheric waves. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Ionosphere. ... The plasma in the solar wind meeting the heliopause For the British comic, see Solar Wind (comic). ... A solid-state, analog shortwave receiver Shortwave radio operates between the frequencies of 2,310 kHz and 30 MHz (30,000 kHz) [1] and came to be referred to as such in the early days of radio because the wavelengths associated with this frequency range were shorter than those commonly...

Microwave field theory

Within microwave field theory, the refractive index of many cavities constitute an interface that supports "surface wave transmission". The propagation of surface waves in such structures are used to produce surface waves and behave as a kind of conductor. Surface waves have been studied as part of transmission lines. A transmission line is the material medium or structure that forms all or part of a path from one place to another for directing the transmission of energy, such as electromagnetic waves or acoustic waves, as well as electric power transmission. ...

Characteristics and utilizations of the electrical surface wave phenomena include:

• The field components of the wave diminish with distance from the interface.^{[citation needed]}
• Optical energy is not converted from the surface wave field to another form of energy and the wave does not have a component directed normal to the interface surface.^{[citation needed]}
• In optical fiber transmission, evanescent waves are surface waves.^{[citation needed]}

The magnitude of an electric field surrounding two equally charged (repelling) particles. ... A bundle of optical fibers. ... In telecommunications, transmission is the act of transmitting electrical messages (and the associated phenomena of radiant energy that passes through media). ... An evanescent wave is an electromagnetic wave that decays exponentially with distance. ...

See also

Waves

• Sky waves, the primary means of HF transmission

• Evanescent waves and evanescent wave coupling
• Surface-wave-sustained mode, a propagation of electromagnetic surface waves.
• Ocean surface waves, internal waves and crests, dispersion, and freak waves
• Love Wave and Rayleigh-Lamb Wave
• Gravity waves, occurs at certain natural interfaces (e.g. the atmosphere and ocean)
• Tube wave
• Stoneley wave
• Scholte wave

People

• Arnold Sommerfeld – published the mathematical treatise on the zenneck wave
• Jonathan Zenneck – Wireless pioneer; developed the zenneck wave
• Kenneth Norton
• John Stone Stone – Wireless pioneer; produced theories on radio propagation

Other

• Ground constants, the electrical parameters of earth
• Near and far field, the radiated field that is within one quarter of a wavelength of the diffracting edge or the antenna and beyond.
• Skin effect, the tendency of an alternating electric current to distribute itself within a conductor so that the current density near the surface of the conductor is greater than that at its core.
• Green function, a function used to solve inhomogeneous differential equations subject to boundary conditions.

Skywave is the propagation of radio waves by reflection off the inner surface of the Earths highly charged ionosphere. ... An evanescent wave is an electromagnetic wave that decays exponentially with distance. ... Evanescent Wave Coupling is a process by which electromagnetic waves are transmitted from one medium to another by means of the evanescent (or decaying) electromagnetic field(s). ... For a long time, microwave plasma sources without magnetic field have not been considered suitable for the generation of high density plasmas. ... Ocean waves Ocean surface waves are surface waves which occur at the surface of an ocean. ... Internal waves are gravity waves that oscillate due to the buoyancy force. ... A crest is the section of a wave that rises above an undisturbed position. ... Dispersion of water waves generally refers to frequency dispersion. ... The Draupner wave, a single giant wave measured on New Years Day 1995, finally confirmed the existence of freak waves, which had previously been considered near-mythical Freak waves, also known as rogue waves or monster waves, are relatively large and spontaneous ocean surface waves which can sink even... In seismology, Love waves (also named Q waves) are surface seismic waves that cause horizontal shifting of the earth during an earthquake. ... Rayleigh waves, also known as the Rayleigh-Lamb Wave or ground roll, are a type of surface wave associated on the Earth with earthquakes and subterranean movement of magma, or with any other source of seismic energy, such as an explosion or even a sledgehammer impact. ... Ocean wave Wave clouds over Theresa, Wisconsin, USA Atmospheric gravity waves as seen from space. ... Arnold Johannes Wilhelm Sommerfeld (December 5, 1868 in Königsberg, East Prussia – April 26, 1951 in Munich, Germany) was a German physicist who introduced the fine-structure constant in 1919. ... Jonathan A. Zenneck (April 15, 1871 - April 8, 1959) was a physicist and electrical engineer. ... John Stone Stone (September 24, 1869 – May 20, 1943) was an American mathematician, physicist and inventor. ... In telecommunication, ground constants are the electrical parameters of earth, such as conductivity, permittivity, and magnetic permeability. ... In the study of diffraction and antenna design, the near field is that part of the radiated field nearest to the antenna, where the radiation pattern depends on the distance from the antenna. ... The skin effect is the tendency of an alternating electric current to distribute itself within a conductor so that the current density near the surface of the conductor is greater than that at its core. ... In mathematics, a Greens function is a type of function used to solve inhomogeneous differential equations subject to boundary conditions. ...

External articles, further readings, and references

Citations

1. ^ "Naval Electrical Engineering Training Series", Chapter 2 Radio Wave Propagation, Ground Waves. Integrated publishing.
2. ^ Antennas and Radio Propagation, TM 11-666, Dept. of the Army, Feb. 1953, pp. 17-23.

Web sites

• Eric W. Weisstein, et. al., "Surface Wave", Eric Weisstein's World of Physics, 2006.
• "Surface waves". Integrated Publishing (tpub.com).
• Brett Ketter, "Surface Wave Theory". University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
• David Reiss, "Electromagnetic surface waves". The Net Advance of Physics: Special Reports, No. 1
• Gary L. Peterson, "Rediscovering the Zenneck wave". Feed Line No. 4. (ed. reproduction available online at Twenty First Century Books)

Patents

• U.S. Patent 2685068, "Surface wave transmission line". George J. E. Goubau
• U.S. Patent 2921277, "Launching and receiving of surface waves". George J. E. Goubau.

Standards and doctrines

• "Surface wave". Telecom Glossary 2000, ATIS Committee T1A1, Performance and Signal Processing, T1.523-2001.
• "Surface wave", Federal Standard 1037C.
• "Surface wave", MIL-STD-188
• "Multi-service tactics, techniques, and procedures for the High-Frequency Automatic Link Establishment (HF-ALE): FM 6-02.74; MCRP 3-40.3E; NTTP 6-02.6; AFTTP(I) 3-2.48; COMDTINST M2000.7" Sept., 2003.

Federal Standard 1037C entitled Telecommunications: Glossary of Telecommunication Terms is a U.S. Federal Standard, issued by the General Services Administration pursuant to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended. ... MIL-STD-188 is a series of U.S. military standards relating to telecommunications. ...

Books

• Waldron, Richard Arthur, "Theory of guided electromagnetic waves". London, New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1970. ISBN 0-442-09167-2 LCCN 69019848 //r86
• Weiner, Melvin M., "Monopole antennas" New York, Marcel Dekker, 2003. ISBN 0-8247-0496-7
• Wait, J. R., "The Waves in Stratified Media". New York: Pergamon, 1962.
• Wait, J. R., "Electromagnetic Wave Theory", New York, Harper and Row, 1985.
• Budden, K. G., " The propagation of radio waves : the theory of radio waves of low power in the ionosphere and magnetosphere". Cambridge (Cambridgeshire); New York : Cambridge University Press, 1985. ISBN 0-521-25461-2 LCCN 84028498
• Budden, K. G., "Radio waves in the ionosphere; the mathematical theory of the reflection of radio waves from stratified ionised layers". Cambridge, Eng., University Press, 1961. LCCN 61016040 /L/r85
• Budden, K. G., "The wave-guide mode theory of wave propagation". London, Logos Press; Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall, c1961. LCCN 62002870 /L

Journals and papers

Zenneck, Sommerfeld, and Norton

• J. Zenneck, (translators: P. Blanchin, G. Guérard, É. Picot), "Précis de télégraphie sans fil : complément de l'ouvrage : Les oscillations électromagnétiques et la télégraphie sans fil", Paris : Gauthier-Villars, 1911. viii, 385 p. : ill. ; 26 cm. (Tr. Precisions of wireless telegraphy: complement of the work: Electromagnetic oscillations and wireless telegraphy)
• J. Zenneck, "Uber die Fortpflanzung ebener elektromagnetischer Wellen Mngs einer ebenen Leiterflache und ihre Beziehung zur drahtlosen Telegraphie", Ann. der Phwk, vol. 23, pp. 846-866, Sept. 1907. (Tr. "Over the reproduction of even electromagnetic waves of an even leader-flat and their relationship with the wireless telegraphy" )
• J. Zenneck, "Eektromagnetische Schwingungen und drahtlose Telegraphie", gart, F. Enke, 1905. xxvii, 1019 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. (Tr. "Electromagnetic oscillations and wireless telegraphy.")
• J. Zenneck, (translator: A.E. Seelig) "Wireless telegraphy,", New York [etc.] McGraw-Hill Book Company, inc., 1st ed. 1915. xx, 443 p. illus., diagrs. 24 cm. LCCN 15024534 (ed. "Bibliography and notes on theory" p. 408-428.)
• A. Sommerfeld, "Fortpffanzung elektrodynamischer Wellen an einem zylindnschen Leiter", Ann. der Physik und Chemle, vol. 67, pp. 233–290, Dec 1899. (Tr. Reproduction of electro-dynamic waves at a cylinder leader)
• A. Sommerfeld, "Uber die Ausbreitlung der Wellen in der drahtlosen Telegraphie", Annalen der Physik, Vol. 28, March, 1909, pp. 665-736. (Tr. Over the Propagation of the waves in the wireless telegraphy)
• A. Sommerfeld, "Propagation of waves in wireless telegraphy", Ann. Phys., vol. 81, pp. 1367–1153, 1926.
• K. A. Norton, "The propagation of radio waves over the surface of the earth and in the upper atmosphere", Proc. IRE, vol. 24, pp. 1367–1387, 1936.
• K. A. Norton, "The calculations of ground wave field intensity over a finitely conducting spherical earth", Proc. IRE, vol. 29, pp. 623–639, 1941.

Wait

• Wait, J. R., "Lateral Waves and the Pioneering Research of the Late Kenneth A Norton".
• Wait, J. R., and D. A. Hill, "Excitation of the HF surface wave by vertical and horizontal apertures". Radio Science, 14, 1979, pp 767-780.
• Wait, J. R., and D. A. Hill, "Excitation of the Zenneck surface by a vertical aperture", Radio Science, 13, 1978, pp. 967-977.
• Wait, J. R., "A note on surface waves and ground waves", IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Nov 1965. Vol. 13, Issue 6, pg 996- 997 ISSN 0096-1973
• Wait, J. R., "The ancient and modern history of EM ground-wave propagation". IEEE Antennas Propagat. Mag., vol. 40, pp. 7–24, Oct. 1998.
• Wait, J. R., "Appendix C: On the theory of ground wave propagation over a slightly roughned curved earth", Electromagnetic Probing in Geophysics. Boulder, CO., Golem, 1971, pp. 37–381.
• Wait, J. R., "Electromagnetic surface waves", Advances in Radio Research, 1, New York, Academic Press, 1964, pp. 157-219.

Others

• F. J. Zucker, "Surface wave antennas and surface wave excited arrays", Antenna Engineering Handbook, 2nd ed., R. C. Johnson and H. Jasik, Eds. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1984.
• Hill, D. and J.R Wait, "Excitation of the Zenneck Surface Wave by a Vertical Aperture", Radio Science, Vol. 13, No. 6, November-December, 1978, pp. 969-977.
• Yu. V. Kistovich, "Possibility of Observing Zenneck Surface Waves in Radiation from a Source with a Small Vertical Aperture", Soviet Physics Technical Physics, Vol. 34, No.4, April, 1989, pp. 391-394.
• V. I. Baĭbakov, V. N. Datsko, Yu. V. Kistovich, "Experimental discovery of Zenneck's surface electromagnetic waves", Sov Phys Uspekhi, 1989, 32 (4), 378-379.
• Corum, K. L. and J. F. Corum, "The Zenneck Surface Wave", Nikola Tesla, Lightning Observations, and Stationary Waves, Appendix II. 1994.
• M. J. King and J. C. Wiltse, "Surface-Wave Propagation on Coated or Uncoated Metal Wires at Millimeter Wavelengths". J. Appl. Phys., vol. 21, pp. 1119-1128; November,
• Georg Goubau, "Surface waves and their application to transmission lines", J. Appl. Phys., vol. 21, pp. 1119-1128; November,1950.
• M. J. King and J. C. Wiltse, "Surfare-Wave Propagation on a Dielectric Rod of Elliutic Cross-Section." Electronic Communications, Inc., Tirnonium: kld.. Sci. Rept.'No. 1, AFCKL Contract No. AF 19(601)-5475; August, 1960.
• T. Kahan and G. Eckart, "On the Electromagnetic Surface Wave of Sommerfeld", Phys. Rev. 76, 406–410 (1949).

Other media

• L.A. Ostrovsky (ed.), "Laboratory modeling and theoretical studies of surface wave modulation by a moving sphere", Environmental Technology Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Laboratories, 2002. OCLC 50325097