Validation of the Simpson-finite-difference time domain method for evaluating the electromagnetic field in the vicinity of the lightning channel initiated at ground level

Abstract

The authors propose a hybrid method, which is a combination between the Simpson method and finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method for evaluating the electromagnetic field radiated by lightning. The proposed method is an alternative approach that takes advantage of this combination to calculate, first, the radiated magnetic field with the Simpson method, and, second based partially on the FDTD method, the electric field. The suitability of this approach is checked through different examples.