We review the time-backward (TB), the time-forward (TF), and time-average (
TA), and the exponential time-differencing (ETD) time-stepping schemes of t
he finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for the efficient simulation
of electric conductive media. The application of global time-step adjustme
nt and adaptive-gridding techniques is addressed in an outlook. (C) 2000 Jo
hn Wiley & Sons, Inc.