A Brief History of Computational Electromagnetics

Abstract

Computational Physics, i.e. computational methods applied to physics, is much older than computers, dating back to Bernoulli, Newton and Gauss. Yet true application of stochastic algorithms or applications of finite differences to partial differential equations is feasible only by electronic calculators. We will briefly review the development of Computational Physics, with a focus on the solution of partial differential equations and boundary value problems and a particular attention to the field of Computational Electromagnetics. If all areas of physics had benefited from computer algorithms, in the area of Electromagnetics Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Engineering allowed the opening of thousands of engineering applications, especially in the area of telecommunications, with a striking impact on society and our way of life.