FINITE-DIFFERENCE AND FINITE-VOLUME TIME-DOMAIN TECHNIQUES IN ELECTROMAGNETICS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

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.