Comparison of EM simulation software

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The following table lists software packages with their own article on Wikipedia that are nominal EM (electromagnetic) simulators;

Name License Windows Linux 3DGUIConvergence detectorMesherAlgorithmArea of application
NEC open sourceYesYesYesIn some distributionsYesmanual MoM Antenna modeling, especially in Amateur Radio. Widely used as the basis for many GUI-based programs on many platforms. Version 2 is open source, but Versions 3 and 4 are commercially licensed.
Momentum commercialYesYesPartialYesYesequidistant MoM For passive planar elements development, integrated into Keysight EEsof Advanced Design System.
Ansys HFSS commercialYesYesYesYesYesAutomatic adaptive FEM, FDTD, PO, Hybrid FEBI, MoM, and Eigenmode expansion (EME).For antenna/filter/IC packages, Radome, RFIC, MMIC, Antenna Placement, Waveguide (radio frequency), EMI, Frequency selective surfaces (FSS), Electromagnetic metamaterials, Composite Material, RCS-Mono and Bi development.
XFdtd commercialYesYesYesYesYesAutomatic (project optimized) FDTD RF and microwave antennas, components, and systems, including mobile devices. MRI coils, radar, waveguides, SAR validation.
AWR Axiem commercialYesYesYesYesYesAutomatic, HybridMoMPCBs, multi-layer PCBs, LTCC, HTCC, on-chip passives, printed antennas. Integrated into Microwave Office.
AWR Analyst commercialYesYesYesYesYesAutomatic and adaptive FEM 3D structurers (including 3D antennas), waveguides, 3D filters, PCBs, multi-layer PCBs, LTCC, HTCC, on-chip Passives, printed antennas. Integrated into Microwave Office.
JCMsuite commercialYesYesYesYesYesAutomatic, error-controlled FEM Nano- and micro-photonic applications (light scattering, [1] waveguide modes, [2] optical resonances [3] ).
QuickField commercial and free editionsYesNoPartialYesYesAutomatic or Manual FEM General purpose for research, engineering and educational use, includes AC, DC and Transient Magnetics, Electrostatics, AC and DC Conduction, Transient Electrics, Heat Transfer and multiphysics
COMSOL Multiphysics commercialYesYesYesYesYesAutomatic FEM, MoM, BPM, ray tracing General purpose
FEKO commercialYesYesYesYesYesAutomatic or manual; adaptive MoM, FEM FDTD MLFMM PO RL-GO UTD For antenna analysis, antenna placement, windscreen antennas, microstrip circuits, waveguide structures, radomes, EMI, cable coupling, FSS, metamaterials, periodic structures, RFID
Elmer FEM open source (GPL)YesYesYesYesYesmanual, or can import other mesh formats FEM General purpose, includes 2D and 3D magnetics solvers, both static and harmonic. 3D solver is based on the Whitney AV formulation of Maxwell's equations.
VSimEM CommercialYesYesYesYesYesAutomatic, variable mesh FDTD, PIC, finite volume Simulating electromagnetics, and electrostatics in complex dielectric and metallic environments. Phased array antenna systems, radar equipment, and photonics.
Meep open source (GPL)NoYesYesNoYesmanual FDTD, FDFD Optics and photonics (nanophotonics, photonic crystals, plasmonics, silicon photonics, metamaterials)
CST Studio Suite commercialYesYesYesYesYesAutomatic, adaptive FDTD/FIT, FEM, MLFMM, MoM, SBR, PIC General purpose – statics, low-frequency, microwaves and RF, terahertz, photonics, particle accelerators, electronics

References

  1. Hoffmann, J.; et al. (2009). Bosse, Harald; Bodermann, Bernd; Silver, Richard M (eds.). "Comparison of electromagnetic field solvers for the 3D analysis of plasmonic nano antennas". Proc. SPIE. Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology II. 7390: 73900J. arXiv: 0907.3570 . Bibcode:2009SPIE.7390E..0JH. doi:10.1117/12.828036. S2CID   54741011.
  2. Wong, G. K. L.; et al. (2012). "Excitation of Orbital Angular Momentum Resonances in Helically Twisted Photonic Crystal Fiber". Science. 337 (6093): 446–449. Bibcode:2012Sci...337..446W. doi:10.1126/science.1223824. PMID   22837523. S2CID   206542221.
  3. Maes, B.; et al. (2013). "Simulations of high-Q optical nanocavities with a gradual 1D bandgap". Opt. Express. 21 (6): 6794–806. Bibcode:2013OExpr..21.6794M. doi: 10.1364/OE.21.006794 . hdl: 1854/LU-4243856 . PMID   23546062.