Radiation and scattering problems in compressible plasmas. Part I. Solutions by ray optics

Ray-optical concepts are introduced for propagation of electromagnetic and electroacoustic waves in an unbounded compressible plasma, and are then applied to the analysis of radiation in the presence of plane or curved interfaces and obstacles. The method involves tracing of the electromagnetic and acoustic rays through the medium, due account being taken of coupling in source regions, at boundaries, and at scattering centers. The formulas for reflected, refracted, and diffracted fields derived in this manner are verified for special cases by the rigorous treatment in part II, thereby providing confidence in the validity of the procedure.