A convolution quadrature method for Maxwell's equations in dispersive media

Abstract: We study the systematic numerical approximation of Maxwell's equations in dispersive media. Two discretization strategies are considered, one based on a traditional leapfrog time integration method and the other based on convolution quadrature. The two schemes are proven to be equivalent and to preserve the underlying energy-dissipation structure of the problem. The second approach, however, is independent of the number of internal states and allows to handle rather general dispersive materials. Using ideas of fast-and-oblivious convolution quadrature, the method can be implemented efficiently.