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THE PHYSICAL OPTICS APPROXIMATION ''Physical optics'' is also the name of a High Frequency Approximation (short- Wavelength Approximation ) commonly used in optics, Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics . In this context, it is an intermediate method between geometric optics, which ignores Wave effects, and full wave Electromagnetism , which is a precise Theory . The word "physical" means that it is more physical than Geometric or Ray optics and not that it is an exact physical theory. This approximation consists of using ray optics to estimate the field on a surface and then Integrating that field over the surface to calculate the transmitted or scattered field. This resembles the Born Approximation , in that the details of the problem are treated as a Perturbation . In optics, it is a standard way of estimating diffraction effects. In Radio , this approximation is used to estimate some effects that resemble optical effects. It models many interference, diffraction and polarization effects but not the dependence of diffraction on polarization. Since it is a high frequency approximation, it is often more accurate in optics than for radio. In optics, it typically consists of integrating ray estimated field over a lens, mirror or aperture to calculate the transmitted or scattered field. In shapes and for lossy (low reflection) surfaces. The ray optics field or current is generally not accurate near edges or shadow boundaries, unless supplemented by diffraction and Creeping Wave calculations. SEE ALSO REFERENCES
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