The Multilevel Fast Multipole Method and its application

The MLFMM (Multilevel Fast Multipole Method) is an alternative formulation of the technology behind the MoM (Method of Moment) and is applicable to much larger structures than the MoM, making full-wave current-based solutions of electrically large structures a possibility. This fact implies that it can be applied to most large models that were previously treated with the MoM without having to change the mesh. In this paper we discuss the development and implementation of volumetric integral equations for both dielectric and magnetically permeable materials using curvilinear hexahedral elements. Both piecewise constant and higher order basis functions will be examined in the context of volumetric multilevel fast multipole method implementation. Comparisons with corresponding finite element-boundary integral solutions will also be presented and compared in terms of accuracy and efficiency.