Oberflächenfelder

Oberflächenfelder are a concept primarily used in computational physics and engineering, particularly in the field of electromagnetics. They represent vector quantities defined on the surface of objects or boundaries within a computational domain. These fields are crucial for solving problems that involve interactions with surfaces, such as wave scattering, antenna analysis, and electromagnetic compatibility.

The fundamental idea behind Oberflächenfelder is to discretize and represent electromagnetic fields, or other vector quantities like forces or velocities, directly on the geometric boundaries of a model. This approach contrasts with methods that might discretize the entire volume of the problem. By focusing computations on surfaces, significant computational efficiency can often be achieved, especially for problems with a large volume-to-surface ratio or where the primary interest lies in surface phenomena.

Common applications of Oberflächenfelder include the Method of Moments (MoM), a widely used technique for solving integral equations that arise in electromagnetics. In MoM, the unknown current or charge distribution on a surface is expanded in terms of basis functions, and the resulting equations are solved for the coefficients of these basis functions. The solution then allows for the calculation of radiated fields, scattered fields, and other relevant quantities. Oberflächenfelder are also employed in other boundary element methods and certain finite element formulations that utilize surface integral equations. The accuracy and efficiency of simulations involving Oberflächenfelder depend heavily on the choice of discretization and basis functions.