352

A FD-TD

BASED COOE FDR TEACHING OF CI-

Sanchez Garcia.1 ,Gome2 M a 1 3 i n . R

WAVE

PROPAGATION

Gonzalez Garcia,S and Garcia Olmed0,B

University of Granada (SPAIN)

This paper describes an interactive PC-oriented

program for teaching conceptual electromagnetic
phenomena related to the propagation of uniform
electromagnetic waves and their normal incidence upon
multiple layers. The program allows the the-domain
visualization of the electromagnetic wave propagation
and its interaction with the structure.
The program can be used to study how the
characteristics of the layers determine the reflected
and transmitted waves as well as their standing wave
pat terns.
Starting with this information, students can do
several "computer's experiments" like calculating
reflection and transmission coefficients, depth of
penetration, impedances, standing wave ratio (SUR),
etc.
The program is based on directly solving
Maxwell's curl equations using the Finite Difference
Time Domain (FD-TD) method.

field radiation-boundary condition (RBC) to

reduce the numerical mesh to a minimum ( 4 ) ,

INTRODUCTION

The choice of space increment dy and

time increment At is related to the
accuracy and stability of the algorithm. To
insure the stability
c-At 5 A y

At present there is a growing interest

in promoting the use of computers for
teaching electromagnetics ( i ) , ( 2 ) .
Following this idea, the program
described in this paper has been developed
as a teaching tool in the second year of
electromagnetics at the University of
Granada, where a sequence of two courses is
required for fullfilling the undergraduate
applied physics major.
The subject of this course is mainly
related
with
electromagnetic
wave
propagation and radiation. The program has
been very useful for teaching conceptual
ideas related to Maxwell's equations,
boundary
conditions, plane-wave propagation, transient and stationary regimens,
energy and power transmission, impedance
matching, stationary waves, standing wave
pattern

...

BASIC FD-TP

ALG0R

(6)

The first left layer coincides with the

scattered zone, and the other layers of the
specified problem belong to the total field
zone.
The incident-plane wave is generated in
the interface between the first and second
zones.
Using
an
adequate
connecting
condition, the incident wave is confined to
the second zone. The connecting condftion is
transparent to the scattered field, l.e., in
the first zone there is only the reflected
field from the structure (Fig.1).

is required where cmax is the maximum wave

velocity within the model.
To produce good results a grid
resolution of by=1/50 is usually enough.
However, if it is necessary, a greater
resolution can be selected without a great
increase in computer time.

The FD-TD method computes in each timestep the electric and magnetic field and
therefore follows the time history of the
electromagnetic wave propagation and its
interaction with any structure. Given that
the FD-TD method is a time-domain approach
it may throw light on the problem in a way
that is not possible using frequency-domain
techniques ( 5 ) . That is why this method is
very suitable for teaching purposes.

I W DETAILS

The FD-TD method is based on central,,fference approximations with second-order

accuracy for the space and time derivatives
of the Maxwell's curl equations in the time
domain combined with material descriptions,
initial conditions, boundary conditions and
source definitions (time-varying incident
fields and/or currents). Material constants
E , P and a typically vary with position and
possibly with time and field strength (non
linear media).
Following the scheme proposed by Yee
( 3 ) , a mesh is defined which encompasses the
region of
interest, and
differential
equations are approximated on this grid.
According to the idea given in ( 4 ) , to
develop the FD-TD code the numerical lattice
has been divided into two distinct zones: a
zone of total fields and a zone of scattered
fields. The outer boundary of the scattered
field reqion is used to simulate the near-

SCOPE OF THE PROGRAM

The first consequence of the direct
application of the FD-TD algorithm to a
chosen problem is the visualization of the
time-history
of
the
electromagnetic
phenomena related to it. While the wave can
be time harmonic or a transient pulse, the
examples in this paper refer to timeharmonic waves. For example, it is possible
to follow the propagation of a harmonic
wave, and its interaction with several
layers
with
arbitrary
constitutive
parameters, from the initial transient
phenomenon until the final stationary
situation.
The
itation
fieids to
surface of
a6

visualization
includes
the
of the electric and magnetic
the boundary condition on the
each layer.

Detection of the maximum value of the

field in each cell qives the standing wave

pattern as a function of distance that is,

the envelope of the maximum values of the
instantaneous field given by the FD-TD
algorithm. As an option of the program this
pattern can be represented on the computer I s
screen along which the user can move a
cursor. The value of the field for each
position appears on the screen. Starting
with this information it is possible to
detect along the width of a layer the
location of the maximum l E l m a x and minimum
I E l m i n values of the pattern.
These data allow us to determine, for a
lossless
layer, . the
coefficient
of
reflection rL=
I rLI el* by
ymin
, = *

teaching possibilities of the program. In

all cases the incident field is normalized
to unity, and the electric and magnetic
standing wave pattern are represented.
A ) Dielectric-perfect conductor interface (Fig.3).

This is an example of total reflection

where E, and H, become pure standing waves.
E) D i e l e c t r i c - c o n d u c t o r ( Q = E o / o = 7 . 4 )

(Fig.4)
In
this
case
because
of
the
attenuation, the effect of the reflected
wave in the conductor layer rapidly becomes
small compared to the incident wave.

2 P

where Ymin is the position where I E l m i n

occurs and s is the standing wave ratio.
If rLand the intrinsic impedance of the
first medium are known, then the input
impedance ZL at the first interface can be
found from the equations

C)

114 adapters (Fig.5)

This is an example with several layers

and two 114 adapters. Because of the match
there is no reflected wave in the first
zone. Fig.S.c,d show respectively the
electric field and magnetic field versus
position after a sufficient number of timestep to reach the stationary state.
The different layers from left to right
are:
1) Free space.

2) Free space.
3 ) 1 1 4 adapter; er=4+Oj.

4) Dielectric; ,=16+0j.
In general, the ratio E/H at any point
gives the impedance Zy looking toward at the
same point
z = E " = z Z,+ Z,t anhyy
H,
* Z,+ZLtanhyy
where
Zy=Impedance at distance y looking
toward the load.
Z,=Characteristic

impedance.

ZL=Load impedance.
yi=a+jp=Propagation constant.
y =Distance from load.
A s another option of the program, the
plot of impedance (magnitude and phase)
along the structure can be represented on
the computer's screen (fig.2)

Other possibilities are to calculate:

i) The depth of penetration 6 of
the field in a conductor by detecting the
distance for which the transmitted wave has
been attenuated to l/e of its value at the
interface.
ii) The incident, reflected and
transmitted power densities from the values
of the electric and magnetic fields given by
their standing wave patterns.
EXAMPLES
In this section we present some typical
examples to illustrate the learning and

5)

114 adapter; rr=4+0j.

6)

Free space.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

Because the program is very easy to use
the students become almost
instantly
proficient without needing a manual. They
need only to follow the instructions that
appear on the screen.
While the program is being executed the
user must choose between a brief set of
selected examples or entering into the main
program to run a new example. If the option
of running a new example is selected, the
user must answer a number of questions
related with the geometry and constitutive
parameters of the model, and must select
between transient or harmonic waves. Once
this option is selected, he or she must
choose between visualizing the electric or
the magnetic field or both.
When the program is being executed a
list of menu options appears at the bottom
of the screen. The user can select one of
these options by pressing the appropriate
letter. Menu choices and the associated
functions performed are listed below
0 - Zoom

G - Grid

v - Cursor
I - Info
E - Standing Wave Pattern

R - Restore
x - Exit
s - stop
z - Impedance
F - r ( w ) (FFT analvsis)

354

This option allows the user to

enlarge a selected part of the screen. The
user must specify the upper left and the
lower right corner of the window being
zoomed.
0-

Overplots a dotted grid in the

graphic window. Alternative clicks on the G
key switches the grid onloff.
0-

VA
keyboard-controlled
cursor,
represented by a vertical line, allows the
user to go through the numerical values of
the magnitude represented on the windows.

I- Enters info screen where the problem

parameters are shown: material constants
(complex
permittivity
and
equivalent
conductivity), frequency, Q factor, skin
depth,
impedance,
reflection
transmission
coefficients,
SWR,
transmitted and reflected.

and
power

arbitrary structures", Pier 2, Progress in

Electromagnetic Research.
5. Bretones A.R.,Gbmez Martln R.,
A.,1989, ComDeL, E , 36-39.

Salinas

6. Gonzalez Garcia S., Garcia Olmedo B.,

Gdmez Martin R. and Umashankar K.R.,1991,
'IEffects of Finite-Difference Time-Domain
second order radiation boundary condition on
the
convergence
and
accuracy
of
electromagnetic fields", U.R.S.1,
London,
Canada, 197.

T"

E- Shows the standing wave pattern on

the graphic windows.
R- Restores vertical and horizontal
scales to default values (modified by
previous zooms, etc.)
I- Exits program to DOS.
8- Alternatively stops and restarts the
program execution.

2- Shows impedance as a function of the

spatial position on graphic windows.

Fig.1 Scheme used 10 simulaIe the interaction of clcctromagncoc wavc

with a structure of several layers.

P- Plots the reflection coefficient in

any previous chosen cell in the frequency
domain. Pulse illumination is needed to
obtain this analysis.
Any represented magnitude (field value,
impedance, transmission coefficient) allows
editing options (cursor, grid, etc).

SUMMARY
This paper describes a PC-oriented
program on basic wave phenomena that allows
the animated display of electromagnetic
field propagation, including travelling and
standing waves, attenuation and reflection,
and transmission at an interface.

I MPEDA NC E
400-

350.

m.
250

200

The program has been used during this

last year at the University of Granada and
it has had considerable educational value.

150

REFERENCES

100

1. Iskander.k,1990,
ADD^ ied ComDutationd
aectromaanetics societv Newsletter, 5, 2431.
2. Miller E.K.,1988,
Education,=, 69-73.

50

IEEE Tra nsactions on

3. Yee K . S . , 1966, JEE Trans.

proDaaat., AD 14, 304-307.

ft

1:
0.-

Antennas

4. Taflove A, Umashankar K.R. ,1990, "The

Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method for
numerical method for numerical modelling of
electromagnetic
wave
interaction
with

60

80

100

120

.
140

160

180

Cells

Fig2 Magnitudc of the impedance for a diclectric-prfect conductor

interface.

355

STANDING WAVE PATTERN

STANDING WAVE PATTERN

2-

1.9.
1.8.

1.71.6-

1.5-

1.4.
1.3.

1.2.
1.1-

10.9.
0.8.

0.7c

0.60.5.

3
ui

0.4

0.3.

'.*.

lll

Free tpoca

Froso

0.1.

0 - , , , ,
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Cells
.AJ\C

80

100

120

140

160

100

STANDING WAVE PATTERN

IJv\,

1.1

I-

0.9

0.8

0.7 -

0.7

0.6 -

0.6

0.5

I os

0.4

0.4

0.9

0.3

0.2 -

60

Fig3.b Dielectric-perfect conductor interface. Magnetic standing wave

pattern.

STANDING WAVE PATTERN

N
W

40

Cells

Fig3.a Diclectric-pcrfect conductor interface. Electric standing

pattern.

0.8

20

0.3
a
"

0.2

B
8

0.I

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180200220240260280

Cells
Fig4.a Dielectricconductor-perfectconductor interface. Electric standing
wave pattern.

. . . .
1

21 4 1 61 81 101 121 I41 161 18120122124l261281

Cells

Fig.4.b Dielectricconductor-perfect conductor interface. Magnetic

standing wave pattern.

356

STANDING WAVE PATTERN

STANDING WAVE PATTERN
1.1

5t3

0.9

1.5

0.a

1.4
1.3

0.7

1.2
0.6

1.1

0.5

0.4
0.3

0.2

0.1
0

0 20 40 60 80 1200 120 140 160 I802200220240260280

1

21 41 61 81 101 121 141 161 181201221241261281

Cells

Cells

Fig.5.a Two X/4 adapters. Electric standing wave pattern.

Fig.5.b Two 1/4 adapters. Magnetic standing wave pattern.

ELECTRIC FIELD

ILl.

MAGNETIC FIELD
L

2.5

10.9

0.8
0.7

0.40.6

0.5

1.5

0.J

; 0-0.1 -0.2 -0.3-0.4-

0.5

0.2
0.1

o
-0.5

-I

-0.5 -0.6

- 1.5

-0.7

-2
-2.5

- 1.1

I
1 21 41 61 81 101121141161181201221241261281

Cells

Cells
Fig.5.c Two X/4 adapters. Electric ficld Venus position

21 41 61 81 101 121 141 161 181201221241261281

Fig.5.d Two X/4 adapters. Magnetic filed versus posiiion