Surface wave

In physics, a surface wave is a wave that is guided along the interface between two different media for a mechanical wave, or by a refractive index gradient for an electromagnetic wave. The surface wave is also known as the Norton surface wave, the Zenneck wave or the gliding wave.

Applications in telecommunications

Application of this phenomena include:

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• The field components of the wave diminish with distance from the interface.
• 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.
• In optical fiber transmission, evanescent waves are surface waves.
• In radio transmission, ground waves are surface waves that propagate close to the surface of the Earth, the Earth having one refractive index and the atmosphere another, thus constituting an interface surface.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C in support of MIL-STD-188

Related Topics:
Federal Standard 1037C - MIL-STD-188

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