Powerful applications of electromagnetic field simulators: Field visualization for education

Electromagnetic simulators are essential tools for the design of complex microwave and RF systems. They are also extremely useful for educational purposes. One of their main advantages is the possibility to visualize the electromagnetic fields in any structure. Through this visualization, we can help the students comprehend the mathematical and physical concept involved and provide them with an easily understandable image of the field distribution inside any structure. Commercially available electromagnetic simulators [High Frequency Simulation Software (HFSS), Computer Simulation Technology Microwave Studio (CST), Sonnet electromagnetic field solver, etc.] allow us to pass from the somewhat obscure mathematical representation of the electromagnetic field theory, i.e., Maxwell's equations, to accurate images and animations. By understanding the modeling properties of the simulators, students can explore more details of complex structures [1].