Diffraction of electromagnetic waves by a half-plane

The field of a plane wave diffracted by an obstacle equivalent to a semi-infinite screen has been studied close to the diffracting edge. The experimental intensity and phase values of the field associated with a thin, highly conducting sheet are compared with Sommerfeld´s rigorous solution for an infinitely thin, perfectly conducting half-plane. Further experimental values show the effect on the diffraction pattern of increasing the thickness and decreasing the conductivity of the sheet.