Shielding theory (a critical look)

During the late 1960s and early 1970s the author taught courses on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) system design at the Extension Department of UCLA. One of the subjects covered was shielding of EM waves. The theory which was taught is consistent with the theory proposed by H.W. Ott (1976). One of the students took exception to the theory. His comments were that the impedance of the barrier assumes an infinitely thick barrier where the thickness of the barriers on his spacecraft are of finite thickness, and absorption loss is an I ²R loss, not skin effect. These comments and other comments which the author encountered during 17 years as Chairman of the Technical Committee on Interference Control of the EMC Society of the IEEE are examined