Genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) in engineering electromagnetics

Modern antenna designers are constantly challenged to seek for optimum solutions for complex electromagnetic device designs. The temptation has grown because of ever increasing advances in computational power. The standard brute force design techniques are systematically being replaced by the state-of-the-art optimization techniques. The ability of using numerical methods to accurately and efficiently characterizing the relative quality of a particular design has excited the EM engineers to apply stochastic global optimizers. The genetic algorithm (GA) is the most popular of the so-called evolutionary methods in the electromagnetics community. Recently, a new stochastic algorithm called particle swarm optimization (PSO) has been shown to be a valuable addition to the electromagnetic design engineer's toolbox. In this paper we provide an overview of both techniques and present some representative examples. Most of the material incorporated in this invited plenary session paper is based on the earlier publication work by the author and his students at UCLA.