On the role of the geometrical optics field in aperture diffraction

The asymptotic solution of a high-frequency electromagnetic field transmitted through a finite aperture is studied. In applying Keller's geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD), a basic yet unanswered question for an observation point in the lit region is: "Should the geometrical optics field on a direct incident ray be included in the total field solution?" By studying a test problem and utilizing the newly developed uniform asymptotic theory (UAT), we have deduced simple and explicit rules for the role of the geometrical optics field and the regions of validity for GTD in a general aperture diffraction. The rules reveal that the success of GTD in treating aperture problems in the literature depends critically on the assumption that both the source and the observation points are infinitely far away from the aperture. Had either point been a finite distance away, Keller's GTD, in general, would fail and UAT must be used. The paper also demonstrates a physical phenomenon: the diffusion of the incident field as the observation point moves away from the aperture.