Electromagnetic field computation: The beginnings and current directions in optimization

This paper traces the discipline of electromagnetic field computation from the early days of network models to finite differences, integral equation solutions and now the all encompassing finite element method. The discipline enjoyed phenomenal growth under the sponsorship of the IEEE Magnetics Society. The pioneers took a broad view of this subspecialty of electrical engineering as a discipline intersecting with mathematical physics, numerical mathematics and computer science. This liberal non-confining view has spawned further sub-disciplines leading to CAD techniques, and inverse problems, matrix solution methods and parallel processing. The paper then focuses on what is currently the most active area of research, inverse problem solution and optimization where much of the new work lies.