Matrix methods for field problems

A unified treatment of matrix methods useful for field problems is given. The basic mathematical concept is the method of moments, by which the functional equations of field theory are reduced to matrix equations. Several examples of engineering interest are included to illustrate the procedure. The problem of radiation and scattering by wire objects of arbitrary shape is treated in detail, and illustrative computations are given for linear wires. The wire object is represented by an admittance matrix, and excitation of the object by a voltage matrix. The current on the wire object is given by the product of the admittance matrix with the voltage matrix. Computation of a field quantity corresponds to multiplication of the current matrix by a measurement matrix. These concepts can be generalized to apply to objects of arbitrary geometry and arbitrary material.