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Angular spectrum method

What is angular spectrum method? A clear definition from the acoustics and sound section of our glossary, with 13 related terms, tools to try and further reading.

Definition of Angular spectrum method

The angular spectrum method is a technique for modeling the propagation of a wave field. This technique involves expanding a complex wave field into a summation of infinite number of plane waves of the same frequency and different directions. Its mathematical origins lie in the field of Fourier optics but it has been applied extensively in the field of ultrasound. The technique can predict an acoustic pressure field distribution over a plane, based upon knowledge of the pressure field distribution at a parallel plane. Predictions in both the forward and backward propagation directions are possible.

Modeling the diffraction of a CW (continuous wave), monochromatic (single frequency) field involves the following steps:

Sampling the complex (real and imaginary) components of a pressure field over a grid of points lying in a cross-sectional plane within the field.

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What is Angular spectrum method?

The angular spectrum method is a technique for modeling the propagation of a wave field. This technique involves expanding a complex wave field into a summation of infinite number of plane waves of the same frequency and different directions.

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