Electromagnetic interconnects and passives modeling: software implementation issues

This is the second paper in a series on the simulation of on-chip high-frequency effects. A computer-aided approach in three dimensions is advocated, describing high-frequency effects such as current redistribution due to the skin-effect or eddy currents and the occurrence of slow-wave modes. The electromagnetic environment is described by an electric scalar potential and a magnetic vector potential as well as a ghost field. The latter one guarantees a stable numerical implementation. This paper deals with the software implementation, the treatment of interfaces and domain boundaries, scaling considerations, numbering schemes, and solver requirements. Some illustrative examples are shown.