A Simplified Novel Link for A Simplified Stability Analysis of Finite Difference Time Domain Method

Abstract

Numerical stability and numerical dispersion analyses are critical subjects for Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method. To perform these analyses, first of all, an equivalency of the FDTD numerical dispersion equation for Maxwell’s equations and wave equation is proven in this study. Then, based on those calculations, a simplified version of a novel link is developed. Using this simplified version, a stability criterion and an amplification factor of the FDTD method are more easily extracted. Therefore, the FDTD stability analysis becomes simpler. The theoretical findings are validated by a numerical example of a late time simulation interval in the FDTD method. In particular, the effect of a hard FDTD source and a soft FDTD source on the growth (amplification) factor is also investigated.