Jamesina J. Simpson

Three-dimensional FDTD modeling of impulsive ELF propagation about the earth-sphere

This paper reports the application of an efficient finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm to model impulsive extremely low frequency (ELF) propagation within the entire Earth-ionosphere cavity. Periodic boundary conditions are used in conjunction with a three-dimensional latitude-longitude FDTD space lattice which wraps around the complete Earth-sphere. Adaptive combination of adjacent grid cells in the east-west direction minimizes cell eccentricity upon approaching the poles and hence maintains Courant stability for relatively large time steps. This technique permits a direct, three-dimensional time-domain calculation of impulsive, round-the-world ELF propagation accounting for arbitrary horizontal as well as vertical geometrical and electrical inhomogeneities/anisotropies of the excitation, ionosphere, lithosphere, and oceans. The numerical model is verified by comparing its results for ELF propagation attenuation with corresponding data reported in the literature.

Subdiffraction optical resolution of a gold nanosphere located within the nanojet of a Mie-resonant dielectric microsphere.

We theoretically investigate light scattering from a bi-sphere system consisting of a gold nanosphere and a lossless dielectric microsphere illuminated at a resonant optical wavelength of the microsphere. Using generalized multisphere Mie theory, we find that a gold nanosphere 100 times smaller than the dielectric microsphere can be detected with a subdiffraction resolution as fine as one-third wavelength in the background medium when the microsphere is illuminated at a Mie resonance. Otherwise, off-resonance, the spatial resolution reverts to that of the nonresonant nanojet, approximately one-half wavelength in the background medium. An important potential biophotonics application is the detection of antibody-conjugated gold nanoparticles attached to the membranes of living cells in an aqueous environment.

An E-J Collocated 3-D FDTD Model of Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in Magnetized Cold Plasma

A new three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) numerical model is proposed herein to simulate electromagnetic wave propagation in an anisotropic magnetized cold plasma medium. Plasma effects contributed by electrons, positive, and negative ions are considered in this model. The current density vectors are collocated at the positions of the electric field vectors, and the complete FDTD algorithm consists of three regular updating equations for the magnetic field intensity components, as well as 12 tightly coupled differential equations for updating the electric field components and current densities. This model has the capability to simulate wave behavior in magnetized cold plasma for an applied magnetic field with arbitrary direction and magnitude. We validate the FDTD algorithm by calculating Faraday rotation of a linearly polarized plane wave. Additional numerical examples of electromagnetic wave propagation in plasma are also provided, all of which demonstrate very good agreement with plasma theory.

Two-dimensional FDTD model of antipodal ELF propagation and Schumann resonance of the Earth

This article reports the initial application of the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to model extremely low-frequency (ELF) propagation around the entire Earth. Periodic boundary conditions are used in conjunction with a variable-cell two-dimensional TM FDTD grid, which wraps around the complete Earth sphere. The model is verified by numerical studies of antipodal propagation and the Schumann resonance. This model may be significant because it points the way toward direct three-dimensional FDTD calculation of round-the-world ELF propagation, accounting for arbitrary horizontal as well as vertical geometrical and electrical inhomogeneities of the ionosphere, continents, and oceans.

Substrate integrated waveguides optimized for ultrahigh-speed digital interconnects

This paper reports an experimental and computational study of substrate integrated waveguides (SIWs) optimized for use as ultrahigh-speed bandpass waveguiding digital interconnects. The novelty of this study resides in our successful design, fabrication, and testing of low-loss SIWs that achieve 100% relative bandwidths via optimal excitation of the dominant TE/sub 10/ mode and avoidance of the excitation of the TE/sub 20/ mode. Furthermore, our optimal structures maintain their 100% relative bandwidth while transmitting around 45/spl deg/ and 90/spl deg/ bends, and achieve measured crosstalk of better than -30 dB over the entire passband. We consider SIWs operating at center frequencies of 50 GHz, accommodating in principle data rates of greater than 50 Gb/s. These SIWs are 35% narrower in the transverse direction and provide a 20% larger relative bandwidth than our previously reported electromagnetic bandgap waveguiding digital interconnects. Since existing circuit-board technology permits dimensional reductions of the SIWs by yet another factor of 4:1 relative to the ones discussed here, bandpass operation at center frequencies approaching 200 GHz with data rates of 200 Gb/s are feasible. These data rates meet or exceed those expected eventually for proposed silicon photonic technologies.

Computational and experimental study of a microwave electromagnetic bandgap structure with waveguiding defect for potential use as a bandpass wireless interconnect

As clock rates continue to rise, problems with signal integrity, cross-coupling, and radiation may render impractical the baseband metallic interconnects presently used in computers. A potential means to address this problem is to use bandpass wireless interconnects operating at millimeter-wave center frequencies. We have conducted experimental and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) computational studies scaled to a 10 GHz center frequency of single-row and double-row waveguiding defects within an electromagnetic bandgap structure. Our initial experimental results scaled to 10 GHz have verified the feasibility of achieving an approximately 80% bandwidth with excellent stopband, gain flatness, and matching characteristics. When scaled to millimeter-wave center frequencies above 300 GHz, this technology appears feasible of supporting data rates in the hundreds of Gb/s.

A Review of Progress in FDTD Maxwell's Equations Modeling of Impulsive Subionospheric Propagation Below 300 kHz

Wave propagation at the bottom of the electromagnetic spectrum (below 300 kHz) in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide system has been an interesting and important area of investigation for the last four decades. Such wave propagation is characterized by complex phenomena involving nonhomogeneous and anisotropic media, and can result in resonances of the entire Earth-ionosphere cavity. In the spirit of this Special Issue, the goal of this paper is to call attention to emerging finite-difference time-domain computational solutions of Maxwells equations for wave propagation below 300 kHz which promise to complement and extend previous analyses by pioneers such as Profs. Wait and Felsen. The following topical areas are discussed: long-range two-dimensional propagation, lightning sources and radiation, global propagation, Schumann resonances, hypothesized pre-seismic lithosphere sources and radiation, detection of deep underground resource formations, and remote sensing of localized ionospheric anomalies. We conclude with a prospectus for future research, especially in incorporating the physics of the anisotropic, nonhomogeneous magnetized plasma in a global planetary ionosphere.

FDTD modeling of a novel ELF Radar for major oil deposits using a three-dimensional geodesic grid of the Earth-ionosphere waveguide

This paper reports the first application of an optimized geodesic, three-dimensional (3-D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) grid to model impulsive, extremely low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic wave propagation within the entire Earth-ionosphere cavity. This new model, which complements our previously reported efficient 3-D latitude-longitude grid, is comprised entirely of hexagonal cells except for a small, fixed number of pentagonal cells. Grid-cell areas and locations are optimized to yield a smoothly varying area difference between adjacent cells, thereby maximizing numerical convergence. Extending from 100 km below sea level to an altitude of 100 km, this technique can accommodate arbitrary horizontal as well as vertical geometrical and electrical inhomogeneities/anisotropies of the excitation, ionosphere, lithosphere, and oceans. We first verify the global model by comparing the FDTD-calculated daytime ELF propagation attenuation with data reported in the literature. Then as one example application of this grid, we illustrate a novel ELF radar for major oil deposits.

Detection of embedded ultra-subwavelength-thin dielectric features using elongated photonic nanojets.

Photonic nanojets have been previously shown (both theoretically and experimentally) to be highly sensitive to the presence of an ultra-subwavelength nanoscale particle within the nanojet. In the present work, photonic nanojets elongated by almost an order of magnitude (relative to the latest previously published work) are found to possess another key characteristic: they are sensitive to the presence of ultra-subwavelength nanoscale thin features embedded within a dielectric object. This additional characteristic of photonic nanojets is demonstrated through comparisons between fundamentally different 3-D and corresponding 1-D full Maxwells equations finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) models.

Electrokinetic effect of the Loma Prieta earthquake calculated by an entire‐Earth FDTD solution of Maxwell's equations

[1] We report what we believe to be the first threedimensional computational solution of the full-vector Maxwell’s equations for hypothesized pre-seismic electromagnetic phenomena propagated within the entire Earth-ionosphere cavity. Periodic boundary conditions are used in conjunction with a variable-cell finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) space lattice wrapping around the complete Earth-sphere and extending ±100 km radially from sea level. This technique permits a direct timedomain calculation of round-the-world ULF/ELF propagation accounting for arbitrary horizontal as well as vertical geometrical and electrical inhomogeneities/ anisotropies of the excitation, ionosphere, lithosphere, and oceans. In this study, we model electrokinetic currents at depths of 2.5 km and 17 km near the hypocenter of the Loma Prieta earthquake and compare the FDTDcalculated surface magnetic field to analytical results and measurements previously reported in the literature. We accommodate the complete physics introduced by impulsive electromagnetic wave propagation through the conductive Earth, and hence illustrate the importance of solving the full Maxwell’s equations when modeling current sources within the Earth’s crust. Our calculated spectra agree qualitatively with those reported by FraserSmith et al. (1990). Citation: Simpson, J. J., and A. Taflove (2005), Electrokinetic effect of the Loma Prieta earthquake calculated by an entire-Earth FDTD solution of Maxwell’s equations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L09302, doi:10.1029/ 2005GL022601.