Detailed FD-TD analysis of electromagnetic fields penetrating narrow slots and lapped joints in thick conducting screens

The physics of electromagnetic-wave transmission through narrow slots and tapped joints in thick conducting screens is examined in detail by applying numerical models to compute both field distributions within the slots and joints, and fields transmitted to the shadow region. The modeling tools used is the finite-difference time-domain (FD-TD) method, using a Faraday's-law contour integral approach to modify the basic FD-TD algorithm to properly model the slot physics, even when the slot gap width is much less than one space lattice cell. Finley stamped method-of-moments (MM) models are used to validate the FD-TD tool for relatively simple straight slots; FD-TD is then used to explore properties of more complicated lapped joints which are widely used for shielding purposes at junctions of metal surfaces. It is found that previously reported slot resonances occur in a more general sense for lapped joints as path-length resonances. In addition to greatly enhanced power transmission, path-length resonances can result in total fields within the joint exceeding the incident fields by more than one order of magnitude. Sample field distributions for this case are given.