Appl. Phys. 5, !

87--196 (1974)
@ by S!0ringer-Verlag 1974 Applied
Physics

Groundwave Propagation over Horizontally

Layered Anisotropic Media*
R. J. King**
Electromagnetics Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
Received 14 May 1974/Accepted 24 July 1974

Abstract. Expressions for the surface impedance and admittance, and the corresponding
Fresnel reflection coefficients are derived for uniform plane TM and TE waves which are
obliquely incident upon plane layered anisotropic media. The permittivity and permeabi-
lity tensors of each layer are assumed to be symmetric, and the propagation vector of the
incident wave lies in one of the planes of anisotropy.
The results can be used directly in well known formulas for groundwave propagation
over isotropic media, and so there is no need to rederive these formulas for the various
horizontal or vertical, electrical or magnetic dipole sources. The effect of the anisotropy
upon the wave tilt is also discussed.
Index Headings: Anisotropic media - Stratified media - Surface impedance - Ground-
waves - Wave tilt

The surface-impendance concept has long been of
great utility in the study of propagation over or near
imperfectly conducting isotropic media. It can
efficiently account for the electrical properties and
structure of the media over which propagation
occurs. Of course, the exact surface impedance is
only known after the boundary value problem has
been solved. But it is often satisfactory to use an
approximate surface impedance at the outset, thereby
avoiding the solution of a complicated boundary
value problem. Undoubtedly the most useful surface
impedance is that which corresponds to a uniform
plane wave obliquely upon a uniform plane interface.
The surface impedance thus obtained from this
simple boundary value problem is then a good
approximation to that for finite sources and certain
curved or inhomogeneous boundaries. This im-
pedance has proven to be highly accurate if the fields
* This paper constituted a portion of a presentation [l] at the
"Convegno Sulla Teoria Matematica Dell'Electromagnetismo",
Istituto Nazionale Di Alta Matematica, Citta Universitario,
Rome, Feb. 19 22, 1974.
** On leave from Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. 53706, USA.
within the boundary are locally uniform, i.e., do not
vary appreciably in a distance along the surface
which is comparable to the wavelength )~1 in the
imperfectly conducting medium. Godzifiski [2]
discusses this matter in detail for isotropic media.
Here we shall fully exploit these ideas to extend
existing propagation theory for finite sources to
include horizontally stratified anisotropic media.
The anisotropy of the media permittivity, permeabi-
lity and conductivity is included without simplifying
assumptions.
Of course, the topic of plane wave propagation in
anisotropic media can be found in such standard
texts as Ramo et al. [3], and Felsen and Marcuvitz
[4]. The chief virtue of the present work is that the
surface impedance emerges in a simple and physically
meaningful way, ready for application to other
propagation problems.
In Section 1 we develop expressions for the surface
impedance and admittance corresponding respective-
ly to transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric
(TE) homogeneous uniform plane waves which are
obliquely incident upon a homogeneous anisotropic
half-space. The electrical tensors describing the
188
anisotropic medium are assumed to be symmetric
with zero off-diagonal elements, and the principle
axis is taken to be normal (vertical) to the plane
interface between air and earth. The propagation
vector is assumed to lie in one of the vertical planes
of anisotropy. These assumptions give uncoupled
TM and TE waves which satisfy the reciprocity
principle [4]. In Section 2 the problem is generalized
to include any number of horizontal layers. We find
that the surface impedance for TM waves is only
slightly more complicated than for the isotropic
case, while there are no additional complications
in the surface admittance for TE waves if the layers
are magnetically isotropic.
Closely related to the surface impedance concept
is the "wave tilt" concept, which is extended to the
anisotropic case in Section 3. The wave tilt is a useful
diagnostic method for measuring the in-situ electrical
parameters of the uppermost few meters of the
earth's crust [5, 61.
If the anisotropy is further restricted to be uniaxial
in the vertical direction, Section 4 shows that the
results are directly applicable to existing groundwave
propagation theory for isotropic media. It is therefore
unnecessary to resolve the various problems for the
anisotropic case. The results appear to be consistent
with Kong's [7] much more complicated treatment,
wherein the concept of propagation matrices was
employed and the reflection coefficients were ex-
pressed in terms of continuous fractions. The field
expressions were given in their integral spectral
form ready for evaluation. We also obtain agreement
with certain special cases considered by Wait
[8-101.
Actually, Wait [10] was the first to point out that the
standard spectral solutions for propagation over a
horizontally uniform isotropic medium could be
extended to uniaxial anisotropic media.
Besides the obvious advantage of the simplicity
afforded by the surface impedance concept, it is
noted that the complete far-zone groundwave fields
are immediately obtainable for electric or magnetic,
horizontal or vertical elemental dipole sources, or
for horizontal line sources. Furthermore, extensions
of existing theory for mixed-path groundwave pro-
pagation over certain anisotropic planar or curved
media follow immediately.
While the uniaxial assumption with a vertical
principle axis is admittedly restrictive, it does provide
solutions for a large class of propagation problems.
A more general but unevaluated exposition of an
R. J. King
electric current line source parallel to a uniaxial
anisotropic half-space with inclined bedding planes
is available [1].
1. Oblique Incidence of a Plane Wave upon a
Homogeneous Anisotropic Medium
We restrict our attention to anistropic media which
are characterized by symmetric tensors of complex
permittivity [el and permeability [#1 with zero off-
diagonal elements. The propagation vector of the
incident plane wave is taken to lie in the x z plane,
which is also one of the principle anisotropy planes.
Under these conditions, obliquely incident TM and
TE plane waves propagate independently.
The medium tensors are then
[ ~ ~ ~0 ~, [#1 = #o ~, (1)
0 ~ 0 ~ ,
where e0 and #0 are the permittivity and permeability
of free space, respectively, and
ej = e) - i a J ( ~ e o ) , j = x, y, z (2)
is the relative complex permittivity (dielectric con-
stant) which accounts for the anisotropic conductivity
a:. The real part of the dielectric constant is e), and
#j is the relative permeability. The rationalized
MKS system of units and exp(io~t) time factor is
used.
Although most media of importance in groundwave
propagation are nonmagnetic, we retain the [#l-
tensor so that the results for a different polarization
type can be immediately written by applying the
duality principle. For this same reason we-have
chosen to represent the parameters in terms of the
permittivity tensor [el rather than the conductivity
tensor [a].
The attentive reader will note the close parallel with
the isotropic media case as outlined, for example,
by Wait [11], and also the impedance concepts
originally discussed by Schelkunoff [12], and by
Ramo et al. [31 and Felsen and Marcuvitz [4]. The
notation is akin to Wait's.
1.1 Parallel Polarization (TM W a v e s )
The geometry of the problem is shown in Fig. 1,
where the region z < 0 is free space (Co,#o, a = 0),
the angle of incidence is 0 +, and the reflection angle
is 0-. The magnetic field only has a transverse or
 Groundwave Propagation over Horizontally Layered Anisotropic Media 189

(Po,%) (Yo, t<o) satisfied for all x, it is necessary that all field com-
ponents have the same phase velocity in the x-
direction. From (6) and (9) we must then have
rosin0 + = y0sin0- = A 1 (10)
or 0 + = 0- and A~ = r o s i n 0 where the superscripts
x
on 0 are no longer needed. Introducing these results
into (8) yields the z-directed propagation constant
[p,],M _~E( u,,K,)
u~ =t~#rtex~ ( 1 - l sin2 0)" (11)
~ylgzl
Denote

= t0(, le l) r (12)
corresponding to the propagation constant of a
vertically propagating wave due to a normally
incident (0 = 0) wave with its E-vector in the x-direc-
Fig. I. Parallel polarized (TM) uniform plane wave obliquely
incident upon a homogeneous anisotropic half-space tion. Then (1 l) is written,

ul = _+ tl 1- / ]2 sin 0 , (13)
y-component. Introducing the subscript 1 to designate
quantities in the anisotropic medium,
where we must choose the sign to make Re{u,} > 0
V x E i = - iCO#o[#l]" H1 = - io#ogrl Hrl at, (3) in order that we only have a vanishing downward
propagating wave as z---, oo.
V x H i = iCOeo[ei] 9E 1 . (4) The wave impedance K 1 -Ex~/Hrt in the lower
Taking the curl of (3) and using (4) we obtain the medium is found from (3),
wave equation for E,
ie),uo#yl Hri = ui Exl - Ai Ezl
17 X 17 • E i = - - t0212y1 ['~I] " E l , (5)
and E=t can be found in terms of Ex, using one of the
where 7o = icO(eo#o)~ is the free space propagation equations in the matrix (7). This gives
constant. The solution of (5) are of the form
Eji = Aj, exp ( - u 1z - A 1x),
where u~ and A~ are propagation constants in the
(6)
iwp~
I
=q~ 1 - [ Y ~ exl sin20
1'
(14)

where
z- and x-directions, and Ajr is a constant. To determine
ut we insert (6) into (5) and obtain the matrix form (15)
\ eoe~i /

AIu~ ?gpy~e=~-A~ LE:lJ = 0 (7) corresponding to the intrinsic impedance of a vertically

propagating uniform plane wave with its E-vector
and Ey~ = 0. The solution is easily found by setting in the x-direction. To be definite, we have taken the
the y-determinant equal to zero (+) sign in (13) to obtain (14), and we shall use this
2 2 o convention throughout.
u~e=l + A 1 gxl t O # y l e x l C,zl = 0 . (8)
Since the tangential E and H fields must be continous
- -

For the free space region z < 0, the fields are charac-
terized by
exp (-T-to cos 0 -+z - to sin 0 -+x),
where the (_+) notation refers to the incident and
reflected waves as shown in Fig. t. In order that the
boundary conditions at the z = 0 interface be
across the interface at z = 0,
K i - Exl/Hrl = E~o/Hro ,
(9)
where Exo and H,o are the total (direct + reflected)
tangential fields in the upper medium. By definition,
their ratio is the surface impedance Z i at the boundary,
and so for this two media problem, Z 1 = K~. The
190 R. J. King

normalized surface impedance A is obtained by anisotropy is unimportant. We shall see that this
dividing by the intrinsic impedance of the upper is also true for multilayered media.
medium by t/o = (#o/Co)~ 1.2 Perpendicular Polarization (TE Waves
- -- 1 -- sin 2 0 By using the duality principle, we can write the
.o .o l If / < results for this case simply by interchanging e,/4 E,
(16) and H everywhere in Subsection 1.1 with #, e, H,
~0 (1 - (~20) 2 gxl sin2Or. and - E , respectively. Thus, E = - ayEy, and
]

The Fresnel reflection coefficient FII for a parallel

polarized (TM) wave at z = 0 is defined as the ratio
vl=+V~- 1 - ( V ~
-
[ #xl sin 201
l
(20)
of the reflected to the incident H-fields, and is the
analogue of a "current" reflection coefficient in one- which is the z-propagation constant for perpendicu-
dimensional transmission-line theory [3, 4, 11, 12] lar polarization obtained as the dual of ul given by
either (11) or (13). Here, ~ is the propagation
H~ K~ - Zl (t7) constant corresponding to a vertically propagating
F[, - H;+o - Ko T Z~ ' wave due to a normally incident (0 = 0) wave with
the H-vector in the x-direction. It is the dual of 7111
where K o - q o c o s O is the wave impedance of the
given by (12),
waves in the free space region. Using this relationship
and (16) in (17), we obtain the compact form yf ~---y0(gyl ~/xl) 89. (21)
cos 0 - A (0) Again the sign of (20) must be chosen to make
~l = cos~+ A(O) (is) Re {vl} > 0, and in the following we shall choose (+)
corresponding to most cases dealing with the
Here we are most concerned with the fields in the earth's surface.
free space region, z < 0, but it should be noted that The wave admittance for the wave in the region z > 0
(16) and (18) can also be used to study the fields for is the dual of (14),
z > 0, and such phenomenae as total reflection and
transmission. Omitting details, total transmission Hxa iCOeoVl
of the incident field for lossless media occurs at the N1 - Ey I - - ~ ])2]..lx
Brewster angle 0b, found by setting F H=0, or (22)
COS0b= A(OO. More generally, for media with com- t/is 1 - sinE0 ,
plex parameters (e.g., lossy media), the pseudo-
Brewster angle occurs when Re{FII}=0, or cos0b where
= ]A~(0b)]. Then, it is not difficult to prove that
q~ = __~0ml ". (23)
FH(0b) : --i { 1 - - 1 ~ + [arg
_ ~ c ods(0b)] .}~. (19) \ eoeyl /

Again, due to the continuity of the tangential fields

Total reflection occurs when A(O) vanishes or is across the boundary, the wave admittance must also
purely imaginary. equal the surface admittance N 1 = Yx =- -H~o/Eyo
Summarizing this case, we see from (11) that both at z - 0. Multiplying (22) by ~/o, which is equivalent
the horizontal (e~l) and vertical (e=i) complex to taking the dual of (16), yields the normalized
dielectric constants enter into the z-directed propaga- surface admittance 6(0) at z = 0.
tion constant ua, and thereby influence the wave
impedance K 1 given by (14), the surface impedance 70 [1 /7~ /2xa sin20 ~-. (24)
A given by (16), and the reflection coefficient FII
3(0)~---Ey I ])f C \Vf ] ~_'zl
given by (18). Furthermore, sy~ plays no role since Finally, the dual of (18) is the Fresnel reflection
there is no Eyx field, nor do # ~ and #z~ since there coefficient
are no H~ 1 or H=I fields. Therefore, only the an-
isotropy of the dielectric constant components in F~o cos 0 - 3(0) (25)
the plane of incidence plays a role, and the magnetic = cos0u '
 Groundwave Propagation over Horizontally Layered AnisotropicMedia 191

(lao,~o) (Vo, Ko)

t Z~ = "qo A ( G )

F
' Zn_ 1 _l Zn
[IJn] . [Eq hn(Un.l(n)
, Zn.1
l ~'i Zn
l

ZN-~

'~hN-1 ZN I
[..], Z l (UN'KN) -

i
i

11
(a) oo (b)

Fig. 2. a) Parallel polarized (TM) uniform plane wave obliquely incident upon a stratified anisotropic half-space, b) Cascaded uniform
transmission line analog of a). K. and u. are the corresponding characteristic impedance and propagation constant for the n-th section

In contrast to the parallel polarization (TM) case, of the form

we see that if the medium is magnetically isotropic,
or even if #=1 = #~a, all quantities are the same as if
Ej,=Aj, exp(+_u,z-A,x), j=x, yorz (26)
n = 0 , 1 .... N .
the medium were totally isotropic with a complex
dielectric constant eya. The sign corresponds to the downward ( - ) or
upward ( + ) wave. The wave equation is linear, and
so it is satisfied by either choice of sign and (8) holds
2. Oblique Incidence of a Plane Wave upon a
in each layer
Horizontally Layered Anisotropic Media
u,2 ~=, + A,2 ex, - 7o#y:x,e~,
2
= 0. (27)
Using conventional one-dimensional transmission-
line theory, it is possible to extend the results of The incident and reflected fields in the upper half-
Section 1 to cases where the lower half-space z > 0 space are still characterized by (9), and so an equal
is composed of N anisotropic horizontal layers, as x-directed phase velocity i n each of the N layers
shown in Fig. 2a. As before, we restrict our attention requires that
to situations where T M and TE waves are uncoupled,
i.e., each layer is characterized by [~,] and [/~,] yosin0 + = ? o s i n 0 - = A . , n = 1 , 2 .... N . (28)
tensors which are symmetric with zero off-diagonal
Thus, 0 + = 0- = 0 and A, = A = Yosin0 for all n, and
elements as illustrated by (1). A nonconventional
we arrive at the counterpart of (13)
transmission line description is available for more
general gyrotropic media [4]. The plane of incidence
is again taken to lie in the xz plane. The thickness [ {7~ ~X" sin20]~, (29)
of each layer is h, = z, - z,_ 1.

2.1 Parallel Polarization ( T M Waves) where we must choose the sign in the N-th medium
to make Re {uN} > 0, and
Of course, the waves in each layer must satisfy the
wave equation (5). In the n-th layer, the solutions are 71,t - ~o(~,:x,P. (30)
 192 R. J. King

In the same manner used to obtain (14), the wave a characteristic impedance Ks_ 1, a propagation
impedance in the n-th layer is constant uN-1, and terminating impedance Z N.
EZ - E;. At z,_ 1

K,- Hf - H~. (31) Z,+ 1 + Kntanh(u,h,)

Zn= K~ (38)
sin 0
Repeating this procedure N times we obtain the
where the superscript signs have the usual meaning,
input (surface) impedance at the uppermost interface
and at z = 0,
Z2 + K1 tanh (u~ hi)
r//I = (/'t~ ) 89. (32) Z1 = K1 (39)
K1 + Z2tanh(ulhO
\ eoex. /
As in the case of (12) and (15) for a homogeneous As usual, the normalized surface impedance is
medium, definitions (30) and (32) correspond to a A (0) = Z1/tlo (40)
vertically propagating uniform plane wave with its
E-vector in the x-direction. and the Fresnel reflection coefficient is
Now from (28) we note that the upward and down- H~o K o - Z 1 _ c o s O - A(O) (41)
ward waves of each field component contains a FII - H;+o - Ko + Zl cosO + A(O)
common e x p ( - A x ) factor which can be suppressed
in the same way the common exp(iwt) factor is since Ko=r/0cos0. Of course, (41) is simply the
suppressed. This leaves a one-dimensional wave analog of a transmission-line current reflection
exp(_+ u,z) in each layer, and enables us to use simple coefficient.
one-dimensional uniform transmission-line theory As in the homogeneous case of Subsection 1.1, %,
to write the solution for the surface impedance A, and FII are all dependent upon #r,, ex,, and ez,,
E~,/Hr, at any boundary. The transmission line i.e., the three parameters corresponding to the three
analog is shown in Fig. 2b where the analog quantities non-zero fields, Hy,, Ex,, and Ez,, respectively.
are seen to be Considering the large number of parameters involved,
it would be hopeless to try to catalog graphs and
Zo, = V'+ - - Vn~- ~ , K . - E~+ - - E~. (33)
tables of the surface impedance except for a few very
I+ I; Hy+n H~n
special cases. With the widespread availability of
Zo, is the characteristic impedance of the n-th line, computers it is perhaps best to treat each case
and V and I are voltage and current waves. The individually as the need arises. However, a useful
analog boundary conditions at z = z, are simplification is often possible when propagating
over the earth's surface at low frequencies. If
<=~ (34)
In= In+ l Hrn= Hyn+ l le~.l = I G - iG~./(COeo)l ~> 1,
and the analog of the transmission line input then (29) and (31) simplify to
impedance is the surface impedance at any position z.
u, --- ~1 = 7o(/~r,ex,)~ (42)_
V E~ (35)
z= T z- H, and

The input (surface) impedance to the N-th semi- K,_~tl~l = ( ~~ l~ (43)

infinite line (medium) at z N_ ~ is thus
Z N= K s
and at zx_ 2
ZN+KN-ltanh(uN-lhN-1)
9 ZN- 1 = K x - 1 KN - 1 + ZNtanh(uN- lhN- 1)
which corresponds to the input impedance of a piece
of uniform transmission line of length hN_ 1 having
\ ~O~;xn /
which essentially means that the wave is propagating
(36) vertically in the n-th medium, even when the incident
wave in the free-space region is grazing, i.e., 0 = re/2.
(37) Also note that (42), (43), and consequently A and F H
are independent of Gn if tez, I ~> 1 for all n, and that
A =constant, i.e., is independent of 0. This then
corresponds to the Leontovich surface impedance
[2] for anisotropic media.
 Groundwave Propagation over Horizontally Layered Anisotropic Media 193

Furthermore, if the horizontal conduction currents We also observe that [A[ becomes quite small as
greatly exceed the displacement current, i.e., Z~ ~ 0 , even if exl and Z~I are complex. Small [A[ is
ox./(CO~o) >>~'~., then also desirable if a surface wave launched by finite
sources is to propagate well. Finally, if the slab is
u. ~ (e) #o #y. ox,,)-~exp (ire/4) (44)
sufficiently thin so that [ko(exl)Gye~O~hl[~l, A
and becomes independent of ex~,
A = ikoz~lhl/e~l . (52)
K. ~- exp (i7r/4). (45)
\ o'x. /
Finally, if #y,----#y for all n, then existing graphs for 2.2 Perpendicular Polarization (TE Waves)
the surface impedance of isotropic conducting The extension to the case where the electric field is
media can be used [11]. perpendicular to the plane of incidence is obtained
Another interesting special case is when Z 2 =0, from the preceeding by simply applying the duality
corresponding to an anisotropic slab overlying a principle. Thus, E. = - ayEy., and we interchange
perfect conductor. Then (39) and (40) give the simple # and e throughout. The dual z-directed propagation
result constant is
A (0) = A a (0) tanh (us ha), (46) [1 - #x. ]~
v~ + (7~ 2 sin 2o (53)
where A~ is the normalized surface impedance
corresponding to an infinitely thick upper layer, and where
is given by (16). The tanh(ulhi) multiplying factor
is due to the finite thickness of the slab and the 7~ = 7O(#x.e,.) ~- (54)
presence of the perfect conductor. For simplicity
The wave admittance of the n-th layer is
we further assume #y~ = 1, i.e., the slab is nonmagnetic.
Now, letting e~ = 1 + Z ~ where Z~ is the vertical - H+ n~
electric susceptibility, the normalized surface im- N.= + - E;.
pedance for the homogenous medium case is Ey, (55)
_ 1 1-{Y~ #x, sin 20 ,
A 1(0) = (~xl e~l)- 89(1 + Zzl - sin2 0)~. (47)

Of much importance is when the incident wave is where

grazing the z = 0 interface. Thus, if we assume
0 -~ re/2 such that ~: - (~~ (56)
\ eO~y. /
cos 2 0 ~ Z~l (48) The surface admittance at z u_ ~ is then
the surface impedance becomes independent of 0, YN = NN (57)
Al=(~)Z~t ~ (49) and at z._ a
Y.+ 1 + N.tanh(v.h.)
and also, Y . = N . N . + Y.+atanh(v.h.) " (58)

ul = ?o \ e~l /
. (50) Finally, the surface admittance at the uppermost
interface (z = 0) is
Inserting (49) and (50) into (46), and using 70 = iko
Y2 + N~ tanh(vl hi)
Y1 = Na (59)
A=i( %'-j l~tan ko(eXlg~a~ lh]. (51) Na + Y2tanh(vlhO
which, when multiplied by % gives the normalized
Thus, if exl and e~l are real (i.e., lossless) then A is
surface admittance
purely imaginary (inductive) and capable of support-
ing a TM surface wave well. 6(0)= Y~,1o.
194
The Freshet reflection coefficient at z = 0 for perpen-
dicular polarization is
/ ' 1 - E~-~ - cosO-6(O)
Ey+o cos 0 + 6(0) "
From (53)-(56), we see that since there is only a
y-component of the electric field, the electrical
anisotropy plays no role and only the magnetic
anisotropy is important. Thus, the problem becomes
the same as the totally isotropic case if all media are
magnetically isotropic.
3. W a v e Tilt for Anisotropic Media
The wave tilt for parallel (TM) polarization is of
considerable practical importance in groundwave
propagation over the earth, since it is measurable
and is closely related to the surface impedance. It
is defined as the ratio of the tangential to the vertical
electric field,
WII--- E~~
E~~ z=o "
The minus sign has been inserted to make this
definition agree with the more conventional form
where the z-axis is directed upward. Using the
Maxwell-Ampere law, it is not difficult to show that
A~(0)
Wxll-- sin0'
where the x-subscript denotes the horizontal co-
ordinate axis which lies in the plane of incidence.
For a homogenous lower half-space, the normalized
surface impedance is given by (16) which we rewrite
in the form which explicitly depicts the effect of the
electrical parameters,
Ax(O) = ( #y~ 1 sin 2 0 . (63)
x
Now, if the per~neability of the lower medium is
horizontally isotropic, i.e., #xl = # y : =gh, and we
rotate the direction of propagation 90 ~ so that the
y-axis lies in the plane of incidence, we have a
similar expression for At(O). Taking the ratio of the
corresponding wave tilts for the two orthogonal
directions of propagation, we obtain the horizontal
anisotropy ratio (for constant 0)
Wxll -- Ax(O) _ ( Eyl 189
R. J. King
which is independent of ~zl- This ratio is often of
interest when propagating over the earth. If the
ground is sufficiently well conducting, i.e., ~)1 ~ ajl/
(60) (o)%), j = x, y, then (64) is simply the ratio of the
anisotropic conductivities (ayl/axl)-~.
While the ratio (64) is adequate to show the degree
of horizontal anisotropy, the actual value of ~xx or
erl can be determined if it is known that [#h~l[ >> I,
e.g., the medium is a good conductor in the z-
direction. Then (63) becomes constant with 0 so that
Ax = (#h/exl) 89 and Ay=( # h / ~ y l ) 89 . (65)
But if ]e~l] is not large, it is also possible to measure
exl and ~yl by using perpendicular (TE) polarization.
In this case, the wave tilt is that corresponding to the
horizontal and vertical magnetic fields,
Hx~ ~=o 6ix(0) (66)
Wx• - Hzo - sin0
which, of course, is the dual of (62). For simplicity,
assume that the medium is nonmagnetic. Then
(61) W~,= (eyl - sin2 0)r
sin 0 (67)
and at near-grazing incidence (0-+rt/2), such that
cos 2 0 ~ Xyl,
Wx• = 6x = Z}~, (68)
(62) where Zyl is the electrical susceptibility in the y-
direction. Rotating the direction of propagation 90 ~
gives Wyi = Z~t.
In a similar manner, the wave tilt for TE waves can
be used to determine effective values [2] of ex and
~y for a horizontally layered medium.
But there is the practical problem of propagating
a TE surface wave over the earth. Normally, 6 is
large in magnitude and has a negative phase angle,
causing the surface wave to propagate poorly.
Nevertheless, as has been suggested before [6], and
we have seen from the above, there is some merit to
simply using the space wave (i.e., the direct plus
reflected) portion of the total groundwave. This
could be done, for example, using a suitable elevated
portable TE-wave source (e.g., a vertical magnetic
dipole or loop) and making the wave tilt measure-
ments at distances somewhat greater than a free-
space wavelength 20 .
Of course, the wave tilt for both TM and TE polariza-
(64) tions is complex and so the locus of the instantaneous
E or H fields traces out an ellipse in the plane of
 Groundwave Propagation over Horizontally Layered Anisotropic Me di a
incidence. Technique of measuring the wave tilt are
described elsewhere [5, 6].
4. The Extension of Groundwave Propagation Theory
to Anisotropic Media
The preceeding results can be directly used to extend
existing well-established groundwave propagation
theory for isotropic media to include certain stratified
anisotropic media. For our purpose, the groundwave
formulas themselves are unimportant.
A recent summary is available [1] for groundwave
propagation over planar and curved surfaces com-
prised of homogeneous and mixed paths. In all cases,
the basic ingredient is the surface impedance for
isotropic media, which we now allow to be uniaxially
anisotropic.
The reason for making this additional assumption
now is that it is sufficient to maintain decoupling of
the TM and TE waves forfinite sources, e.g., elemental
dipoles. (Such restrictions are unnecessary for line
sources lying parallel to the y-axis). Since the [e]
and [#] tensors given in (1) are reciprocal we are
assured that the reciprocity principle is satisfied.
In turn, reciprocity is demanded since it is an inherent
assumption in the derivation of the electromagnetic
compensation theorem. The latter (or a similar
scalar integral formulation) has been very useful in
groundwave propagation, especially for mixed paths
[i, Ii].
For finite sources, we take the N-layered medium as
anisotropic only to the extent that the horizontal
and vertical electrical parameters differ, i.e.,
[~.] = ~o ~h,
0 ~vn
(69)
and
0 horizontally layered.
[-m] = ~ ~.
~rl -
The propagation constants 71,I and ~ given by (30)
and (54) then become identical, and
(70)
since the superscript denoting the polarization type
is no longer needed. Similarly the "vertical" intrinsic
195
impedances (32) and (56) become
,7~I r/# = (#~
= ]-~ = ~ . (71)
\ eOeh, /
and all of the equations in Sections 1 and 2 are
simplified accordingly. It is important to note that
u,, A, and Fll are now all independent of the uniaxial
magnetic anisotropy, while v,, 6, and F• are all
independent of the uniaxial electrical anisotropy.
The simplified expressions for d (or 6) and Fll (or F•
can now be substituted directly into the TM (or TE)
groundwave formulas with the usual precautions
that the surface impedance (or admittance) concept
applies. These are discussed at some length by
Godzinski [-2] for isotropic media, and similar
restrictions apply here. Essentially, Godzinski has
shown that the fields should not vary appreciably
in a distance along the surface which is comparable
to a wavelength in the lower medium, 21 . For curved
surfaces, the radius of curvature should be large
compared to 21.
Here, we suggest that for a homogeneous anisotropic
medium 21 corresponds to 27~/fl 1 where fll = Im {71}
in (70). At most, this distance can be the free-space
wavelength 2 o, corresponding to letting the vertical
propagation constant approach 70, i.e., #h,eh,~l.
For propagation over ground, this distance is much
less than 70 since bh.eh.l'> 1, especially for good
conducting media.
Thus, we expect the surface impedance (or admittance)
as derived here for plane waves to be in violation of
the actual boundary conditions at points on the
surface which are:
a) within the induction region of the source
b) near an abrupt discontinuity (e.g., mixed paths
such as land-sea boundaries)
c) radiating subsurface (leaky) modes (e.g., a di-
electric layer over a good conductor at points near
the source).
d) over subsurface inhomogeneities which are not
But in spite of these restrictions, groundwave theory
which is based upon the surface impedance concept
has proven to be highly accurate, and often useful
even in situations where these restrictions are clearly
violated [-1-1. One reason for its success is that these
regions generally constitute a very small portion of
the total surface over which propagation takes place.
For example, consider a case under b) above. When
propagating a groundw~ve over a flat island sur-
rounded by sea, the surface impedance concept
196 R. J. King
would be violated near the perimeter of the island.
But this perimeter is an insignificant part of the total
area if the width and breadth of the island are several
times larger than 21 , and the receiving antenna is not
near the boundary.
Similarly, the induction region under a) above
becomes an insignificant part of the total surface if
the field is observed well outside of this region.
The more or less classical approach to the problem
of an elemental dipole over a horizontally uniform
isotropic media has been to express the fields (or a
potential function) as a summation ofinhomogeneous
plane waves with an x-directed wave number,
kosinO(=-iA) (e.g., see [Ref. 11, P. 39]). Then
using the plane wave reflection coefficient Fll (or F L)
in this extended sense, all of these inhomogeneous
waves are summed through a Fourier type integra-
tion in the complex angle (0) space. Generally, the
surface impedance (admittance) in FII(F• is assumed
constant with 0 (e.g., the lower medium is a good
conductor), enabling a saddle-point integration to be
performed. This gives the radiation field in the far
zone, while the residues of the poles in F give the
surface waves. The total is what we have here termed
the 9roundwave.
But the interesting and perhaps not surprising result
that comes from this procedure is that the reflected
field corresponds to the saddle point which occurs
at the specular angle of reflection, 0r. The constant
surface impedance (admittance) is generally taken as
that for grazing incidence, although some improve-
ment can be realized if this is changed to the specular
impedance [i.e., A(0~)], in the reflected wave term.
The result is then precisely the same as the solution
obtained using the electromagnetic compensation
theorem and the surface impedance concept [-1, 13].
The latter approach not only gives the same result,
but allows the complete TM and TE solutions for
other dipole types (i.e., horizontal or vertical, electric
or magnetic) to be written using duality and reci-
procity arguments [13].
Either of these procedures can be used for anisotropic
media. The results obtained would be the same as for
isotropic media, except that the reflection coefficients
and surface impedances (admittances) would have
the more general forms of those discussed in Sec-
tions 1 and 2.
This can be seen in certain special anisotropic cases
considered by Wait who used the spectral formula-
tion. In [9] he treated a vertical electrical dipole over
a homogeneous anisotropic medium. For a horizontal
electric dipole, the asymptotic TE field and TM field
for source and observation points which are located
on the z = 0 interface are in agreement when the
anisotropic medium is homogeneous [9], as well as
stratified [8-1. Finally, agreement is obtained with
his asymptotic solution for the TM field of a vertical
electric dipole over an anisotropic jungle [10].
The spectral approach is especially powerful and
versatile for precisely computing the fields very near
the source, or within the lower medium. Numerical
techniques are generally required. This, in fact, is
what Kong [-7] proposed to do. Unfortunately, his
reflection coefficients were expressed in the complicat-
ed form of continuous fractions involving propaga-
tion matrices. While this may be useful for finding
the subsurface fields in each of the anisotropic layers,
having first found the fields in the free space region,
the forms for FII and F• given by (41) and (60) seem
simpler for setting up such a spectral representation.
Acknowledgements. The author wishes to thank Prof. J. R. Wait
for his constructive comments, and the following for their financial
support: The Electromagnetics Institute, Technical University of
Denmark, Lyngby; The Research Committee, University of
Wisconsin Graduate School, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; The
United States National Science Foundation, Grant GK-21218 A.
References
1. R.J.King, J.R.Wait: In Symposia Mathematica, vol. 9 (Aca-
demic Press, London 1974) (in press)
2. Z.Godzifiski: Proc. IEE 108C, 362 (1961)
3. S.Ramo, J.R.Whinnery, T.Van Duzer: Fields and Waves in
Communication Electronics, (John Wiley, New York 1965),
pp. 344-345 and 486-494
4. L.B. Felsen, N. Marcuvitz: Radiation and Scattering of Waves,
(Prentice-Hail, Englewood Cliffs, N. J. 1973) pp. 202 217,
745-749, 832-837
5. P. Hoekstra, A. Delaney, P. S ellmann: AGARD/NATO Conf.
Proc. AGARD-CPP-144, The Hague, Netherlands, (March,
1974)
6. R.J.King: Radio Sci. 3, 345 (1968)
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AP-14, 790 (1966)
9. J.R.Wait: Canad. J. Phys. 44, 2387 (1966)
10. J.R.Wait: Radio Sci. 2, 747 (1967)
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(Macmillan Co., New York, N. Y. 1962) pp. 8 61
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13. R.J.King: Radio Sci. 4, 255, 0969)