Alan X. 2024 | BASIS Independent Fremont
- Project Title: Modeling Electromagnetic Fields Using Differential Equations
- BASIS Independent Advisor: Mr. Andrew Magee
- Onsite Mentor: Ms. Simran Brar
Electromagnetic fields appear in every aspect of our everyday lives, impacting not only the domain of computing and communications technologies but also those of health and environmental safety. Devices emitting EM fields are used in communication, medicine, cybersecurity, and so on. EM fields are typically produced by current-carrying circuits and electrical charges, and modeling the behavior of the EM fields produced by a circuit setup can help identify the possible effects of the circuit on its surrounding environment as well as reveal weaknesses in the circuit’s performance. The behavior of EM fields, however, is immensely complex and often requires computer simulation. This project aims to develop an open source program written in C/C++ to simulate electromagnetic fields. The software will be developed to prioritize versatility and open access, allowing for students and independent users to conveniently adapt the software to their own uses.The EM fields are modeled using differential equations, specifically Maxwell’s equations of electromagnetism. Solutions for those equations, given a set of initial conditions determined by the user, are then found through algorithms that solve the equations numerically. By developing an open source version of the simulation software, students and researchers will be able to access the necessary tools for their projects without having to spend hundreds of dollars on proprietary software.