Preparing for Wave Optics Modeling
Several modeling topics are described in this section that might not be found in ordinary textbooks on electromagnetic theory.
This section is intended to help answer questions such as:
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Which space dimension should I use: 3D, 2D axial symmetry, or 2D?
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Is my problem suited for time-dependent or frequency domain formulations?
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Can I assume that the electric field has a slowly varying amplitude?
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What sources can I use to excite the fields?
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When do I need to resolve the thickness of thin shells and when can I use boundary conditions?
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What is the purpose of the model?
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What information do I want to extract from the model?
Increasing the complexity of a model to make it more accurate usually makes it more expensive to simulate. A complex model is also more difficult to manage and interpret than a simple one. Keep in mind that it can be more accurate and efficient to use several simple models instead of a single, complex one.
The Physics Interfaces and Building a COMSOL Multiphysics Model in the COMSOL Multiphysics Reference Manual