A finite element method for approximating electromagnetic scattering from a conducting object

We provide an error analysis of a fully discrete finite element – Fourier series method for approximating Maxwell's equations. The problem is to approximate the electromagnetic field scattered by a bounded, inhomogeneous and anisotropic body. The method is to truncate the domain of the calculation using a series solution of the field away from this domain. We first prove a decomposition for the Poincaré-Steklov operator on this boundary into an isomorphism and a compact perturbation. This is proved using a novel argument in which the scattering problem is viewed as a perturbation of the free space problem. Using this decomposition, and edge elements to discretize the interior problem, we prove an optimal error estimate for the overall problem.