The limitations of the perfectly matched layers based on E–H fields for arbitrary anisotropic media—Reply to “Comment on ‘On the Matching Conditions of Different PML Schemes Applied to Multilayer Isotropic Dielectric Media’”

The aim of this communication is to correct potential misunderstandings about the PMLs (which are called the MIPMLs) based on D–H (E–B or D–B) fields. In fact, the motivation for developing the MIPMLs is to establish accurate and efficient PML absorbers for general anisotropic media. It is demonstrated that, by comparing the formulations of material-independent PML absorbers based on E–H and D–H fields (as an example) for arbitrary anisotropic dielectric media, the PMLs based on D–H fields are more accurate and efficient than those based on E–H fields. It is also demonstrated that, for arbitrary anisotropic dielectric media, the formulations based on D–H fields can be easily connected to the alternating direction implicit (ADI) FDTD method, but the formulations based on E–H fields cannot. This certainly indicates that formulations based on E–H fields have limitations for general anisotropic dielectric (and/or magnetic) media, and using the formulations based on D–H (E–B or D–B) fields is the optimal choice for such media. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 32: 237–241, 2002.