Whenever my eyeglasses prescription is updated, I find myself looking at a new world. Oftentimes, this same revelation is how I feel when researching electromagnetics: every few years I open my eyes a little wider and realize all of the developments occurring at any given point. With consistent pushing of the waveforms used in the electromagnetic spectrum, and the wide adoption of mmWave, microwave, and infrared technologies, it is little surprise that systems are requiring more advanced EM simulation tools these days. 

While the above whitepaper takes a look at 3D full-wave EM modeling, below you can find an overview of wave spectrums, waveforms, and some advancements in EM simulation in recent years. 

Wave Spectrums and EM Simulation

Maxwell's equations have long been used in EM simulation to utilize displacement currents for the purpose of resolving electric flux ambiguity. In many ways, we've come a long way since the bare bones understanding that the coupling between two fields (electrical, magnetic) generates electromagnetic waves; however, at the core of these equations this is still what we are operating with. 

With EM solvers operating in 3D full wave, planar modes as well as working through true parallelized matrix computational flows, the amount of time able to be saved, accuracy able to be ensured, and overall cost-for-production for the latest innovations in electronics are going to radically change. 

mmWave and Microwave Frequencies

mmWave and Microwave frequencies are some of the most currently explosive categories of technology currently being optimized via EM solvers. Recent trends revolve around improving data transmission rates, resolving bit error rates, and, as always, minimizing interference.

One such application is in the commercial technology of wireless power transmission (WPT). While the technology is being optimized for continued and improved efficiencies, it is also being expanded even further into technologies like power beaming, a subsect of WPT, that insists on utilizing either optical, mmWave, or Microwave frequencies to electromagnetically beam the transmission of energy across a free space to devices. This technology works to empower power distribution grids as well as alternative energy solutions. 

How EM simulation works alongside these technologies is providing the necessary computational methods to determine things like power conversion, transmit and receive apertures, as well as assist in the development of any necessary filters, rectifiers, and antenna arrays. Additionally, these developed components and arrays can then be applied to expand other technological developments, therein heightening the technological capacities of the industry all around. 

Plane Waves, Wave Computing, and Wave Generators

When working with planar waves, calculations that are particularly helpful are in boundary conditions and boundary value problem resolutions. As a simple understanding, these assist  in identifying the necessary nature of the EM wave , as well as reducing the total unknowns in the problem. Adding in factors like time, angles, reflections, impedance, and shielding can all shift and add dimensions to the boundary conditions that would make solving these equations particularly challenging. 

Utilizing planar waveform computing, though, has enabled new innovations in dealing with classic EM problems such as radiation noise, EMI cancellation techniques, magnetic coupling, and managing signal to interference plus noise ratios. This enables technologies like highly efficient electromagnetic coupling power transmitters, MIMO radars, and antenna array design. 

Wherever you look, the world of electromagnetics is evolving and transforming. This new methodology, enabled by new Cadence technology, will demonstrate that larger models can be created faster while maintaining gold-standard accuracy.