Precursor propagation in dispersive media from short-rise-time pulses at oblique incidence

The derivation and the application of a numerical method designed to study the propagation of pulsed electromagnetic fields into dispersive dielectric materials are reported. A Fourier series based methodology, appropriate for a useful class of pulse train incident signals, is presented and utilized to study the dynamics of dispersive pulse propagation in a half-space constructed of a Debye or a Lorentz model medium. Computed solutions are presented showing precursor propagation excited by pulses obliquely incident upon a planar boundary to the medium. The results show that oblique incident pulses upon a Lorentz medium can excite different types of precursor, propagating in unique directions within the half-space.