Plane wave diffraction by impedance planar surfaces with a step discontinuity

The diffraction of electromagnetic plane waves by a thick impedance half-plane located over a nonhomogeneous half-space backed by an impedance plane with a step discontinuity is investigated rigorously by using the Fourier transform technique in conjunction with the mode matching method. The hybrid method of formulation gives rise to a scalar Wiener-Hopf equation of the second kind, the solution of which contains infinitely many constants satisfying an infinite system of linear algebraic equations. A numerical solution of this system is obtained for various values of the plate impedance, plate thickness, permittivity of the dielectric region, and the incidence angle wherefrom the effect of these parameters on the diffraction phenomenon is studied.