Induced Currents and Charges on Thin Cylinders in a Time-Varying Electromagnetic

The distributions of current and charge induced on the surface of electrically thin metal cylinders by an external electromagnetic field are described by means of theoretically and experimentally determined graphs. Various possible standing-wave patterns are shown including some with unexpected properties such as the coincidence of current and charge minima. A knowledge of these distributions is essential to the determination of the shielding properties of imperfectly conducting cylinders and cylinders with small aperttires. It is also a prerequisite o an understanding of currents and charges on crossed metal cylinders including aircraft exposed to an electromagnetic pulse. The significance of the location of the junction in the standing-wave patterns is pointed out.