EM Wave Simulation : a simulation and visualization package

In this paper we describe our implementation of EM Wave Simulation , a windows-based electromagnetic wave simulation/visualization package. For the purpose of displaying electromagnetic wave images in real time, the package employs a 21/2-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, which assumes the computation domain is sandwiched between perfect electric conductors and is suitable for simulating simplified electromagnetic wave propagation in indoor environments. Frequency-domain information can be extracted with the built-in one- and two-dimensional Fourier transform tools. A user-friendly mouse-and-menu-driven interface allows user to set up simulations containing complex geometries in a straightforward manner. Simulated results, in both time and frequency domains, can be displayed in real-time on the computer screen, which makes the application ideal for interactive use, e.g. for undergraduate teaching. Some sample simulations are presented in the paper to illustrate its principal functionality.