On the variational solution of electromagnetic problems in lossy anisotropic inhomogeneous media

Some of the basic developments in the variational treatment of electromagnetic field problems in anisotropic inhomogeneous media are reviewed. The field is assumed to be time harmonic and satisfies appropriate Maxwell's equations. A vector variational principle in terms of electric and magnetic field vectors for lossy media is developed. The natural interface and boundary conditions associated with the principle are investigated and further modifications needed to implement more required conditions are presented. The results extend the class of problems for which the variational approach is useful in addition to facilitating the computations involved.