Conformal hybrid finite difference time domain and finite volume time domain

A hybrid method that combines the finite difference time domain (FDTD) and the finite volume time domain (FVTD) methods is presented. The FVTD, based on a conformal and unstructured grid is used in the near vicinity of the surface of a scatterer, and the FDTD is used to model the fields in the surrounding area. The two are coupled together through interpolation. The vertex-based FVTD allows for more convenient and accurate interpolations than a conformal FDTD method. The hybrid method is validated through two examples-the scattering by a PEC cube and sphere-by comparison with the direct FDTD solution, and with an exact Mei series solution for the spherical case