Improved finite difference time-domain method for anisotropic magnetised plasma based on shift operator

Based on the dispersion characteristic of magnetised plasma, an improved shift-operator finite difference time-domain (SO-FDTD) method for anisotropic medium is proposed. The constitutive relations between the polarised current density and the electric field intensity in the frequency-domain are written as a rational polynomial function, and the constitutive relations are deduced in the time-domain. Through a shift operator, the constitutive relations in the time-domain are transformed to the discrete time-domain. Thus, the recursion difference equations are obtained for each field component. Compared to the analytical method, current-density (JE) convolution finite difference time-domain method and the original SO-FDTD method, the high accuracy and efficiency of this method are verified by calculating the reflection and transmission coefficient of electromagnetic waves through a magnetised plasma slab. © 2010 © The Institution of Engineering and Technology.