Evolutionary Programming in Electromagnetic Optimization: A Review

In this paper, we review recent advances in evolutionary programming (EP) and its implementation in various antenna, microwave, frequency selective surfaces and RF circuit optimization problems. EP, unlike the other two paradigms of evolutionary computational techniques, namely, genetic algorithms (GA) and evolution strategies (ES), uses a mutation only variation operator where adaptive and/or self-adaptive techniques exist, or can easily be designed, for adapting the parameters of mutation operator during the evolution process. We present the so-called meta-EP and design of its mutation operator, using Gaussian, Cauchy and Poisson mutations as well as a hybrid of these mutations, for continuous, discrete and mixed parameter electromagnetic optimization problems. In addition, an efficient hybrid use of EP, gradient search methods and cluster analysis, as well as a novel hybrid EP-GA algorithm are discussed. Examples presented include optimizations of corrugated horn antennas, multilayered stacked microstrip antennas, Yagi-Uda arrays, partially reflective surfaces, dielectric filters, meander-line polarizer and RF duplexers