Electromagnetic scattering analysis with combined field integral equations

In this talk we study properties of electromagnetic integral equations of the first (EFIE) and second kind (MFIE) and show that the solution accuracy and matrix conditioning are almost opposite properties. A smooth operator (EFIE) leads to a better solution accuracy, but poorer matrix conditioning, and a singular operator (MFIE) behaves vice versa. A compromise between solution accuracy and matrix conditioning is obtained with combined field integral equations (CFIE). In this talk the solution accuracy and convergence of iterative solutions of the CFIE formulation in the scattering analysis of metallic and dielectric objects are investigated.