Exterior finite elements for 2-dimensional field problems with open boundaries

Electric- and magnetic-field problems with boundaries at infinity are treated in finite-element terms by constructing an element to model an extremely large annulus surrounding the region of interest. A simple recursion technique is employed to generate the matrix representing the annular region. All nodes are eliminated from the external element except those on its inner surface, so that the final matrix is no larger than that required to describe the region of interest only. The method is simpler to program and requires less computing effort than boundary-integral techniques. It has been tested by solving several 2-dimensional magnetostatic and electrostatic problems and comparing the results with analytic solutions. The method can be applied to any 2-dimensional field problem bounded by a large empty region in which the field satisfies Laplace´s equation.