Ma. Jensen et Y. Rahmatsamii, FINITE-DIFFERENCE AND FINITE-VOLUME TIME-DOMAIN TECHNIQUES IN ELECTROMAGNETICS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY, Radio science, 31(6), 1996, pp. 1823-1836
The finite difference and finite volume time domain (FDTD and FVTD) me
thods are powerful computational simulation techniques in electromagne
tics. Although the two algorithms are derived using finite difference
discretizations of Maxwell's equations, they differ in their theoretic
al foundations, practical implementations, and domains of applicabilit
y. This paper provides a comparison of these two techniques based upon
their theoretical development, simulation accuracy, and computational
requirements. Concrete simulation examples are provided to illustrate
their respective domains of applicability. A hybrid FVTD/FDTD algorit
hm is also presented which combines the capabilities of both technique
s to allow efficient modeling of a wide variety of geometrical feature
s.