High-order finite-difference methods in computational electromagnetics

There exists a class of problems in computational electromagnetics (CEM) which require very large computer resources. These problems are characterized by a geometry which has a large electrical size, i.e., the dimensions of the scatterer greatly exceed the wavelength of the incident electromagnetic wave. An example is the radar cross-section analysis of an entire airplane with an incident wave having a frequency of the order of ten GHz. High-order finite-difference methods are one possible way to reduce the computational resource requirements of such simulations. This paper presents a discussion of issues arising in the application of high-order finite-difference methods to simulations of the propagation and scattering of electromagnetic waves. Topics addressed include accuracy, boundary schemes, and gridding considerations.