The finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method is a numerical technique based on the finite difference concept. It is employed to solve Maxwell's equations for the electric and magnetic field distributions in both the time and spatial domains. The FDTD method utilizes the central difference approximation to discretize two of Maxwell's curl equations, namely, Faraday's and Ampere's laws, in both the time and spatial domains, and then solve the resulting equations numerically to derive the electric and magnetic field distributions at each time step and spatial point using the explicit leap-frog scheme. The FDTD solution, thus derived, is second-order accurate, although the difference formulation is first order, and is stable if the time step size is chosen to satisfy the special criterion.

Chapter Contents:

• 1.1 FDTD Updated Equations
• 1.2 Stability Analysis
• 1.3 Boundary Conditions
• 1.4 Parallel FDTD Method
• References

Inspec keywords: Maxwell equations; finite difference time-domain analysis; approximation theory

Other keywords: parallel FDTD method; central difference approximation; electric distribution; Maxwell's curl equations; Faradays law; finite-difference time domain method; magnetic field distribution; leap-frog scheme; Amperes law

Subjects: Numerical approximation and analysis; Interpolation and function approximation (numerical analysis); Numerical analysis; Interpolation and function approximation (numerical analysis)