ABSTRACT
In the beginning, the design and analysis of electromagnetic devices and structures was largely experimental. However, once the computer and numerical programming languages were developed, people immediately began using them to solve electromagnetic field problems of ever-increasing complexity. This pursuit of computational electromagnetics (CEM) has yielded many innovative, powerful analysis algorithms, and it now drives the development of electromagnetic devices people use every day. As the power of the computer continues to grow, so do the number of available algorithms as well as the size and complexity of the problems that can be solved. While the data gleaned from experimental measurements is invaluable, the entire process can be costly in terms of money and the manpower required to do the machine work, assembly, and measurements at the range. One of the fundamental drives behind reliable computational electromagnetics algorithms is the ability to simulate the behavior of devices and systems before they are actually built. This allows engineers to engage in levels of optimization that would be painstaking or even impossible if done experimentally. CEM also helps to provide fundamental insights into electromagnetic problems through the power of computation and computer visualization, making it one of the most important areas of engineering today.
