Improving the accuracy of the magnetic field integral equation with the use of a new impedance matrix element formulation

The electric field integral equation (EFIE) and the magnetic field integral equation (MFIE) are widely used in conjunction with method of moments for electromagnetic scattering analysis of three-dimensional conducting objects with closed surfaces. However, the MFIE suffers from an accuracy problem compared with the EFIE with the use of the Rao-Wilton-Glisson (RWG) basis function. This accuracy problem is more serious for objects with sharp edges or corners. To solve this problem, a new technique to compute the impedance matrix elements (IME) of the MFIE using an RWG basis function is presented here. Details to compute the IME and the advantage of this new formulation are displayed. In addition, the relationship between this new IME formulation and the formulation using the low-order curl-conforming basis function for the MFIE is given. Through the computation of the RCS of several relatively small sharp-edged conducting objects, it is shown that the accuracy of the MFIE can be greatly improved by the use of the new IME formulation.