Choosing the right EM simulation technology for antenna design and analysis

Antenna designers have come to rely on Electromagnetic (EM) simulators for accurate prediction of antenna performance prior to building and testing prototypes. Over time, several different EM simulation technologies have been developed and commercialized, each with relative strengths for certain types of antennas. This paper provides an overview of three common EM technologies: Method of Moments (MoM), Finite Element Method (FEM) and Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD). Included are examples of how these EM technologies are applied to various antenna topologies.