TLM calculation of the radiation of a short current element in the presence of a finite sized conducting plate

The application of the transmission line matrix (TLM) method to electromagnetic radiation problems is investigated. The TLM method is capable of calculating an approximate solution to the time-dependent Maxwell´s equations in arbitrary media. In order to illustrate the algorithm developed, the authors consider the radiation characteristics of an electrically short current element in the presence of a finite-sized perfectly conducting thin plane. The TLM-calculated gain pattern is compared to a frequency-domain-integral-equation numerical method. Good agreement between the two methods was obtained in front of the plate. In the region behind the plate, a deeper null was predicted by the integral equation method and the magnitude of the back radiation calculated by the TLM method is approximately 1.8 dB higher than the integral equation solution.<>