To iterate or not?-That´s the question

A discussion is presented of some of the criteria used to decide between iterative and direct approaches for solving the operator equations arising in electromagnetics. Iterative techniques provide the alternative approach to Gaussian elimination and similar direct techniques for constructing the solution in the context of the method of moments (MOM). Accuracy, convergence, and numerical efficiency are considered. It is concluded, that there are conditions under which iterative techniques are superior to direct MOM schemes and one that should take every advantage of the situation by using these techniques for the problems with these conditions.<>