Accurate and efficient algorithms for frequency domain scattering from a thin wire

This paper contains a systematic study of numerical approximations for solv ing the exact kernel form of Pocklington's integro-differential equation fo r the current induced on a thin wire by an incident time-harmonic electroma gnetic field. We consider various Galerkin (h. p. hp, and adaptive h) and c ollocation schemes and show that a sensible lip refinement strategy provide s a very efficient way to solve the problem. We also describe how the kerne l (itself a difficult singular integral) can be evaluated reliably and effi ciently. (C) 2001 Academic Press.