On Sommerfeld precursor in a Lorentz medium

Abstract

A one-dimensional electromagnetic problem of Sommerfeld precursor evolution, resulting from a finite rise-time signal excitation in a dispersive Lorentz medium is considered. The effect of the initial signal rate of growth as well as of the medium dumping on the precursor shape and its magnitude is discussed. The analysis applied is based on an approach employing uniform asymptotic expansions. In addition, new approximate formulas are given for the location of the distant saddle points which affect local frequency and dumping of the precursor. The results obtained are illustrated numerically and compared with the results known from the literature.