Spectral FDTD: a novel technique for the analysis of oblique incident plane wave on periodic structures

This paper introduces a new technique which calculates the reflection coefficient for the plane wave incident on planar periodic structures. The method referred to as spectral finite-difference time-domain (SFDTD) replaces the conventional single-angle incident wave, with a constant transverse wavenumber (CTW) wave. Because the transverse wavenumbers are constant, the fields have no delay in the transverse plane (x-y plane), and PBC (periodic boundary condition) can be directly implemented in the time domain for both oblique and normal incident waves. The stability criterion for this new FDTD technique is angle-independent and therefore this method works well for incident angles close to grazing (θ=90°) as well as normal incident (θ=0°). This shows the efficiency of the method compared to other available FDTD techniques for the same purpose that force a more restricted stability criterion as angles turns to grazing. The validity of this method is verified by comparing the reflection coefficient calculated by this method with the analytical results of a grounded slab. The results of this technique are also compared with method of moments for a periodic array of metallic patches and a good agreement is observed. A periodic array of metallic patches above a PEC plate is analyzed and the reflection coefficient is calculated over a wide frequency band for angles varying from 0° to close to 90°.