A connection machine (CM‐2) implementation of a three‐dimensional parallel finite difference time‐domain code for electromagnetic field simulation

This paper describes a parallel three‐dimensional finite difference time‐domain (FDTD) code for electromagnetic field simulation that has been developed for the Connection Machine (CM‐2). The CM‐2 is briefly discussed. Then the FDTD method is reviewed using a one‐dimensional example, and the extensions required for the 3‐D case are outlined. The parallelization of the FDTD method is considered, and a simple analytical timing model is dervied. This model predicts the efficiency of the parallelized algorithm as a function of grain size. Some specific points relating to the implementation of the parallel FDTD algorithm in Fortrans‐90 on the CM‐2 are discussed. Timing data for the parallel 3‐D FDTD code measured on a CM‐2 is presented and compared qualitatively with the theoretical model. These results are then put into perspective for a particular computations electromagnetics problem, viz. the development of software tools for full‐wave modelling of 3‐D optical devices. Finally, we draw some conclusions about this work.