We introduce a new model of the generation of pre-seismic electromagnetic emissions, which explains the observed phenomenology in terms of its geometry and fractal electrodynamics. Accumulated evidence indicates that an earthquake can be viewed as a critical phenomenon culminating in a large event that corresponds to a type of critical point. The principle feature of criticality is the fractal organization in both space and time. Earthquakes display a complex spatio-temporal behavior: in addition to the regularity in the rate of occurrence (e.g. Gutenberg-Richter law, Omori law), the spatial distribution of epicenters is fractal and earthquakes occur on a fractal structure of faults. Thus, the hypothesis that the fault develops as a fractal is reasonable. A mounting body of laboratory evidence suggests that micro-fracturing of rocks are associated with the appearance of spontaneous charge production and transient electromagnetic emissions (EME). The emitting, diffusing and recombination charge accompanying the micro-fracturing, can act as current generated during the crack opening. In this view, an active crack or rupture, can be simulated by a "radiating element." The idea is that a fractal geo-antenna (FGA) can be formed as an array of line elements having a fractal distribution on the ground surface as the critical point is approached. We test this idea in terms of fractal electrodynamics: we argue that the precursory VLF-VHF EM signals associated with recent earthquakes in Greece are governed by characteristics (e.g. scaling laws, temporal evolution of the spectrum content, broad band spectrum region and accelerating emission rate) predicted by fractal electrodynamics.
We consider the problem of radiation from a vertical short (Hertzian) dipole above flat lossy ground, which represents the wellknown "Sommerfeld radiation problem" in the literature. The problem is formulated in a novel spectral domain approach, and by inverse three-dimensional Fourier transformation the expressions for the received electric and magnetic (EM) field in the physical space are derived as one-dimensional integrals over the radial component of wavevector, in cylindrical coordinates. This formulation appears to have inherent advantages over the classical formulation by Sommerfeld, performed in the spatial domain, since it avoids the use of the so-called Hertz potential and its subsequent differentiation for the calculation of the received EM field. Subsequent use of the stationary phase method in the high frequency regime yields closed-form analytical solutions for the received EM field vectors, which coincide with the corresponding reflected EM field originating from the image point. In this way, we conclude that the so-called "space wave" in the literature represents the total solution of the Sommerfeld problem in the high frequency regime, in which case the surface wave can be ignored. Finally, numerical results are presented, in comparison with corresponding numerical results based on Norton's solution of the problem.
The well-known "Sommerfeld radiation problem" of a small -Hertzian-vertical dipole above flat lossy ground is reconsidered. The problem is examined in the spectral domain, through which it is proved to yield relatively simple integral expressions for the received Electromagnetic (EM) field. Then, using the Saddle Point method, novel analytical expressions for the scattered EM field are obtained, including sliding observation angles. As a result, a closed form solution for the subject matter is provided. Also, the necessary conditions for the emergence of the so-called Surface Wave are discussed as well. A complete mathematical formulation is presented, with detailed derivations where necessary.
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