Absorbing Boundary Conditions for the Finite-Difference Approximation of the Time-Domain Electromagnetic-Field Equations

When time-domain electromagnetic-field equations are solved using finite-difference techniques in unbounded space, there must be a method limiting the domain in which the field is computed. This is achieved by truncating the mesh and using absorbing boundary conditions at its artificial boundaries to simulate the unbounded surroundings. This paper presents highly absorbing boundary conditions for electromagnetic-field equations that can be used for both two-and three-dimensional configurations. Numerical results are given that clearly exhibit the accuracy and limits of applicability of highly absorbing boundary conditions. A simplified, but equally accurate, absorbing condition is derived for two- dimensional time-domain electromagnetic-field problems.