Absorbing boundary conditions for the three-dimensional vector wave equation

Absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs) are constructed for the finite-element solution of the three-dimensional (3-D) vector wave equations. Applied on spherical outer boundaries, the new operators are derived by first representing the scalar components of the field in a series of powers 1//spl tau/. Then the Bayliss-Turkel (1980) boundary operators are enforced on scalar field components, which are tangential to the outer boundary. Unlike previous boundary condition constructions, the new scheme makes possible the implementation of operators of order three or higher, thus increasing the accuracy potential of analytic ABCs.