3-D EDGE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF DIELECTRIC-LOADED RESONANT CAVITIES

The eigenmodes in electromagnetic cavities, loaded with arbitrarily sh aped dielectric materials, are computed by the edge element method. Th e computation shows that the well known 'spurious modes' no longer app ear. Formulae are given and verified so that the number of zero eigenv alues, which come from del x H = 0, may be accurately predicted. Formu lae for the order and density of the global matrices are given for a r ectangular cavity regularly divided into bricks and tetrahedra, allowi ng an associated comparison between the contrasting edge and nodal ele ment formulations. Comparison of the computed results with available t heoretical and previously published data show the edge element approac h to be a robust, accurate and effective method.