Algebraic properties and conservation laws in the discrete electromagnetism

The Finite Integration Theory (FIT) is a discretization scheme for Maxwell' s equations in their integral form and is the basis of a discrete electroma gnetic field theory. The resulting matrix equations of the discretized fiel ds can be used for efficient numerical simulations on modern computers. In addition, the basic algebraic properties of this discrete electromagnetic f ield theory allow to analytically and algebraically prove conservation prop erties with respect to energy and charge of the discrete formulation and gi ve an explanation of the stability properties of numerical time domain form ulations.