A simple solution of Sommerfeld's half-plane diffraction problem

The paper presents a simple solution of Sommerfeld's half-plane diffraction problem which is based on the work of Karp (1957). The relation of the solution of this problem to Keller's (1962) geometrical theory of diffraction is discussed with attention to extensions of this theory to the uniform asymptotic theory of edge diffraction. The fundamental idea underlying the geometrical theory of diffraction of a local phenomenon is determined solely by the local structure of the incident field and the local properties of the diffracting obstacle