New Trends In Electromagnetic Modeling

A guest column series by Kaz Sabet, Ph.D., President, EMAG Technologies Inc.

Electromagnetic (EM) solvers have predominantly been used as "point tools" for characterization of RF components or subsystems. Some examples include the radiation pattern of antennas, the frequency response of microwave devices, the radar cross section of targets, or the path loss between transmitter-receiver pairs in a given physical channel. The advancement of numerical techniques in recent years, coupled with the availability of enormous computing power on affordable platforms, has opened new horizons for addressing truly complex RF system problems. In particular, hybrid numerical methods have made it possible to tackle multi-scale modeling problems that involve large electrical dimensions (on the order of thousands of wavelengths) with sub-wavelength geometrical or material variations and details at localized areas. Solving such computational problems using a single numerical technique has been impossible in the past due to a multitude of stability or convergence issues. In this series of columns, Kaz Sabet of EMAG will present articles discussing some of these new types of complex multi-scale system-level RF modeling problems.

1. Wave Propagation Modeling In Near-Ground Sensor Networks
   The performance of near-ground sensors is inadvertently affected by the presence of a non-ideal lossy ground. This article investigates these adverse effects and describes how one can characterize certain performance parameters using a combination of different numerical techniques in a systematic manner.
2. Wave Propagation Modeling In Near-Ground Sensor Networks — Part II: Surface Wave Effects
   Accurate propagation models play an important role in the design and optimization of wireless systems. After a brief exposure of a summary of complex mathematical formulations, this article explains why it is important to model the surface wave effects in near-ground propagation problems.
3. Modeling Wave Propagation And Link Analysis In Complex Environments
   The rapid growth of wireless technology has enabled such diverse applications as mobile communications, remote sensing, ground positioning, search and tracking, etc. All of these systems rely on the propagation of electromagnetic waves that carry information as electric signals from one point to another.
4. Modeling Indoor Wave Propagation Scenes With Simple Or Multilayer Walls
   In this article, we will adopt a similar hybrid approach to tackle the problem of indoor wave propagation, especially when the scene involves walls with complex material compositions and interior structures.