A proof that multiple waves propagate in ensemble-averaged particulate materials.

ABSTRACT: Effective medium theory aims to describe a complex inhomogeneous material in terms of a few important macroscopic parameters. To characterize wave propagation through an inhomogeneous material, the most crucial parameter is the effective wavenumber. For this reason, there are many published studies on how to calculate a single effective wavenumber. Here, we present a proof that there does not exist a unique effective wavenumber; instead, there are an infinite number of such (complex) wavenumbers. We show that in most parameter regimes only a small number of these effective wavenumbers make a significant contribution to the wave field. However, to accurately calculate the reflection and transmission coefficients, a large number of the (highly attenuating) effective waves is required. For cl

SUBMITTER: Gower AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6784390 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature