Numerical Electromagnetics
The FDTD Method

An introduction to the FDTD method for students and engineers without prior modeling experience.

Umran S. Inan (Author), Robert A. Marshall (Author)

9780521190695, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 April 2011

404 pages, 100 b/w illus. 3 tables 111 exercises
25.4 x 17.9 x 2.2 cm, 0.95 kg

'FDTD is presently the method of choice for solving most numerical electromagnetics studies. The Inan and Marshall book is a very thorough, yet readable, account of all the details of the method, very valuable for students and professionals alike, with problems included, ready for a course. Even those who use commercial programs would benefit from a better understanding of dispersion, accuracy, media descriptions, basic limitations and so on, all treated in great detail. I am sure it will be a good reference for a number of years. No special background [is] needed since basic material for a good understanding is given, such as electromagnetics, or numerical solution[s] of differential equations. Highly recommended.' Jørgen Bach Andersen, Professor Emeritus, Aalborg University

Beginning with the development of finite difference equations, and leading to the complete FDTD algorithm, this is a coherent introduction to the FDTD method (the method of choice for modeling Maxwell's equations). It provides students and professional engineers with everything they need to know to begin writing FDTD simulations from scratch and to develop a thorough understanding of the inner workings of commercial FDTD software. Stability, numerical dispersion, sources and boundary conditions are all discussed in detail, as are dispersive and anisotropic materials. A comparative introduction of the finite volume and finite element methods is also provided. All concepts are introduced from first principles, so no prior modeling experience is required, and they are made easier to understand through numerous illustrative examples and the inclusion of both intuitive explanations and mathematical derivations.

1. Introduction
2. Review of electromagnetic theory
3. Partial differential equations and physical systems
4. The FDTD grid and the Yee algorithm
5. Numerical stability of finite difference methods
6. Numerical dispersion and dissipation
7. Introduction of sources
8. Absorbing boundary conditions
9. The perfectly matched layer
10. FDTD modeling in dispersive media
11. FDTD modeling in anistropic media
12. Some advanced topics
13. Unconditionally stable implicit FDTD methods
14. Finite-difference frequency domain
15. Finite volume and finite element methods.

Subject Areas: Electricity, electromagnetism & magnetism [PHK], Mathematical modelling [PBWH], Numerical analysis [PBKS]