Improved impedance matrix localization method (EM problems)

Moment method calculations have the well-known limitations of requiring excessive storage and execution times for even modestly large electromagnetics problems. The impedance matrix localization (IML) method was introduced as a modification to standard moment method calculations to ease these limitations. It utilizes a matrix transformation which effectively changes the basis (testing) functions into ones resembling traveling waves. An improved method that uses an orthogonal transformation to generate standing-wave-like basis functions is presented here. Remarkable improvements are achieved in the numerical stability of the method and in its compatibility with iterative solvers. Furthermore, the correspondence of the large elements in this matrix to geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) terms is strengthened, as is the possibility of further increasing the speed of iterative solutions by constructing preconditioners based on the pattern of nonzero matrix elements.>