Abstract

Kirchhoff’s theory of diffraction, as usually formulated, leads to an internal mathematical inconsistency because the solution does not reduce to the assumed boundary conditions as the observation point approaches the plane of the diffracting aperture. However, it is in excellent agreement with experiment. We show that two different, consistent formulations of Kirchhoff’s theory [ F. Kottler, Ann. Phys. 70, 405 ( 1923); E. W. Marchand and E. Wolf, J. Opt. Soc. Am. 56, 1712 ( 1966)] are equivalent.

© 1988 Optical Society of America

Equivalence between two consistent formulations of Kirchhoff’s diffraction theory: erratum

Salvatore Ganci
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 5(12) 2050-2050 (1988)

Consistent Formulation of Kirchhoff’s Diffraction Theory*

E. W. Marchand and E. Wolf
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 56(12) 1712-1721 (1966)

Fictitious diffracted waves in the diffraction theory of Kirchhoff

Yusuf Z. Umul
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 27(1) 109-115 (2010)

Young-Kirchhoff-Rubinowicz theory of diffraction in the light of Sommerfeld's solution

Yusuf Z. Umul
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 25(11) 2734-2742 (2008)

Modified diffraction theory of Kirchhoff

Yusuf Z. Umul
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 25(8) 1850-1860 (2008)