A domain decomposition method for the vector wave equation

A nonoverlapping domain decomposition method (DDM) is presented for the finite-element (FE) solution of electromagnetic scattering problems by inhomogeneous three-dimensional (3-D) bodies. The computational domain is partitioned into concentric subdomains on the interfaces of which conformal vector transmission conditions are prescribed and that can be implemented in the inhomogeneous part. The DDM is numerically implemented when a conformal vector absorbing boundary condition (ABC) is utilized on the outer boundary terminating the FE mesh, while employing the standard edge-based FE formulation. Then, numerical experiments are performed on a sphere and a cone sphere that emphasize the advantages of this technique in terms of memory storage and computing times, especially when the total number of unknowns is very large. Also, these numerical experiments serve as a severe test for the performances of the ABC.