Solution of EM wave scattering from inhomogeneous and anisotropic objects by edge-based FEM

A hybrid finite element method (FEM) is applied to solve the problem of electromagnetic scattering from a complex inhomogeneous and anisotropic object. In the FEM implementation considered, the open space is truncated by a fictitious surface conformal to the scatterer. The interior region is modeled by edge-based vector finite elements, while the exterior region is coupled to the interior region by tangential electric and magnetic fields on the surface. The use of edge-based vector finite elements is preferred because they are divergenceless, and can model continuous tangential fields across dielectric interfaces and on conducting surfaces. It is shown that the formulation and its computer program are applicable to virtually any objects.<>