On field representations in terms of leaky modes or Eigenmodes

Solutions to source-excited field problems are frequently represented as superpositions of source-free field solutions. The latter are in general of two types: eigenmodes and noneigenmodes which are related to the zeros of the total impedance or alternatively the poles of the scattering coefficient of a system. The eigenmodes are everywhere finite and comprise a complete orthogonal set. The noneigenmodes become infinite in the infitely remote spatial limits of a region and are not in general members of a complete orthogonal set; examples are "radio-active states," "damped resonances," and "leaky waves." Despite their physically singular behavior, the nonmodal solutions can be employed to represent field solutions in certain ranges.