A noise suppression algorithm for the numerical solution of Maxwell's equations (Q761028)

A grid noise suppression algorithm for the numerical solution of Maxwell's equations is developed. The algorithm introduces nonlinear diffusive damping into the equations governing the transverse components of the electromagnetic fields. The transverse-longitudinal field decomposition is preserved by the damping: however, the energy in short wavelengths associated with the grid size is dissipated, and therefore total energy is not conserved. Examples are given of one- and two- dimensional vacuum wave propagation and a one-dimensional planar relativistic diode. In particular, it is shown for the case of one- dimensional vacuum wave propagation that this technique reduces the computational errors as compared to leap-frog in the \(L_ 1\), \(L_ 2\), and \(L_{\infty}\) norms.