Hybrid ray-FDTD moving frame approach to pulse propagation

An accurate approach to pulse propagation in complex environments over large distances is proposed. This method combines asymptotic ray techniques and the FDTD method. The technique is useful in particular for tracking well-collimated short pulse fields, referred to as pulsed beams or localised waves. The ray asymptotics describes the global propagation of a wavepacket in a particular environment and is used to define a center of mass of the wavepacket as it propagates. Creating a moving grid centered about this center of mass, the behaviour of the wavepacket in the local environment can be accurately modeled with the FDTD approach.