Multiple-Precision Arithmetic Implementation of the Multilevel Fast Multipole Algorithm

We propose and demonstrate a multiple-precision arithmetic framework applied to the inherent hierarchical tree structure of the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA), dubbed the multiple-precision arithmetic MLFMA (MPA-MLFMA) that provides an unconventional but elegant treatment to both the low-frequency breakdown and the efficiency limitations of MLFMA for electrically large problems with fine geometrical details. We show that a distinct machine precision can be assigned to each level of the tree structure of MPA-MLFMA, which in turn enables controlled accuracy and efficiency over arbitrarily large frequency bandwidths. We present the capabilities of MPA-MLFMA over a wide range of broadband and multi-scale scattering problems. We also discuss the implications of a multiple-precision framework implemented in software and hardware platforms.