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University of Cambridge

On the Factorisation of Matrix Wiener–Hopf Kernels Arising From Acoustic Scattering Problems

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The research undertaken in this thesis is in the broad area of diffraction theory. We consider three separate and distinct problems of acoustic scattering with rectangular geometries, which have a common underlying mathematical structure. The geometries are: the infinite wedge, the waveguide with a barrier, and the semi-infinite plate of finite thickness. It turns out that these problems may be formulated as matrix Wiener–Hopf problems with the special property that their matrix kernels $\mathsf K$ may be formulated as \mathsf K = \mathsf M-1 \mathsf J \mathsf M, where \mathsf J2 = \mathsf I, the identity matrix. This special property makes the problems amenable to factorisation which enables an exact solution to be derived, at least in theory. In practice, in two of the cases, we end up with an infinite system of equations which must be truncated to allow for practical computation of coefficients. However, these coefficients are rapidly convergent aided by the use of a novel technique termed the `corner singularity method', in which the integration contour of an integral is shifted upwards in the complex plane to pick up a contribution from the infinite 'tail'. This work has applications in industrial and marine acoustics, and bears promise of fruitful extension to elastodynamics and other areas of wave theory.

Degree

thesis:*
Name dc:type.qualificationname
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Level dc:type.qualificationlevel
Doctoral
Grantor dc:publisher.institution
University of Cambridge
Year dc:date.issued
2024

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Aitken, Mungo
Advisors dc:contributor.advisor
  • Abrahams, David
  • Peake, Nigel

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Language dc:language
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
DOI dc:identifier.doi
https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.105942
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/364176

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Cambridge University
Base URL
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Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
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citation

Aitken, Mungo. On the Factorisation of Matrix Wiener–Hopf Kernels Arising From Acoustic Scattering Problems. Doctoral thesis, University of Cambridge, 2024. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.105942