Adaptive finite elements analysis of microwave and optical devices using hierarchal triangles

It is pointed out that adaptive methods using hierarchal triangles can automatically determine a good distribution of free parameters for the finite-element analysis of microwave and optical devices. Such methods avoid repeated mesh refinement; instead, they vary the polynomial order of the elements in different parts of the mesh. A simple yet effective method for hierarchal adaptation for high-frequency finite-element analysis is developed and evaluated. A simple wavelength criterion was shown to yield an effective initial distribution of degrees of freedom for the adaptive analysis of the microwave and optical devices considered.<>