FDTD in Computational Electromagnetics and Quantum Transport

The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method used in computational electromagnetics (CEM) and quantum transport are investigated. In CEM, FDTD is applied to coupled electric and magnetic fields based on the Maxwell's equations. In quantum transport, FDTD is implemented to coupled real and imaginary components of the electron wavefunction based on the time dependent Schrödinger equation. To have a better understanding of CEM and quantum transport, FDTD formulations and simulations of plane wave propagation in free space and electron scattering in metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) are presented. A comprehensive observation of electromagnetic and quantum techniques can be obtained through discretization of the time-dependent Maxwell's equations and Schrödinger equation.