Dielectric material modeling in the MoM-based code FEKO

The majority of structures of electromagnetic interest contain regions of non-metallic materials. The applicability of a numerical analysis tool is greatly reduced by an incapability or limitation in treating dielectric regions. The treatment of propagation medium properties is inherent in the formulation of field-based analysis tools. In the method of moments (MoM), dielectric regions require extended formulations and additional resources to model. A number of techniques for the optimum representation of these regions has been implemented in FEKO, a commercial MoM-based analysis tool. Each of the available techniques within the MoM have certain applications to which they are better suited. The optimum technique to use is often immediately evident to the inexperienced user. This paper briefly introduces each of the available techniques, and then demonstrate, by way of an example, how the choice of technique can influence the efficiency and accuracy of simulation.