Diffraction in wide slits with semi-cylindrical edges

Abstract

We present an analytical model to obtain the diffraction pattern in far field of a metallic, thick slit based on the Geometrical Theory of Diffraction. The edges of the slit are modelled as semicylinders. We have considered that the thickness of the slit is sufficiently small compared to the width, so that the influence of multiple reflections between the edges may be neglected. The material in which the slit is made, as well as the polarization and angle of the incident beam, are considered. Notorious differences are obtained when compared to the classical diffraction from flat slits.