A comparison of surface-modeling techniques

Solution techniques based on surface integral equations (SIEs) are widely used in computational electromagnetics. Formulations employing SIEs express the unknown function on the defining surface of the problem geometry. Thus, both the surface and the unknown function defined on it have to be accurately represented in the solution algorithm. However, real-life problems usually involve arbitrary geometries with curved surfaces, which require either exact or higher-order geometry models. The dependence of the accuracy of the solution on the geometry modeling is investigated. The use of different basis functions to represent the unknown functions on curved surfaces is also mentioned and the problem of plane-wave scattering by a perfect electric conductor sphere is considered.