Solver

Transmission Line Matrix (TLM)

Surface current and electric field vector
plot for Waveguide Magic T

Surface current and electric field vector plot for
Stripline Meander

CST MICROSTRIPES™ (CST MS) is a powerful 3D simulation software which uniquely employs the Transmission Line Matrix (TLM) method to solve Maxwell’s equations in the time domain, a highly efficient numerical method. Since its inception, the developers of CST MICROSTRIPES™ have continued to add numerous enhancements to make it more intuitive and easier to use.

Efficient Analysis

The TLM method time domain solver is widely accepted as being extremely computationally efficient and inherently stable. Coupling this with an intuitive easy to use GUI, optimal meshing algorithm and parallel processing for increased speed, means CST MICROSTRIPES™ is ideal for solving extremely complex and electrically large problems.

Applications

The software is capable of addressing a wide spectrum of applications including microwave and RF devices, antennas, connectors, numerical dosimetry (SAR), high frequency IC’s and package design as well as lightning strikes.

Octree Meshing

Surface currents on an array of dielectric
loaded helices. Cell-size is set to just λ/8
of the helix-wire diameter, but octree
meshing has reduced the cell-count by a
factor of 25

Electric field and surface currents on a 9l radius
parabolic dish with horn feed. Cell-size is set to
just λ/38 on the dish (and finer on the
feed and its support rods), but octree meshing
has reduced the cell-count by a factor of 25.

CST MICROSTRIPES™ (CST MS) utilizes octree meshing, delivering high levels of accuracy with significantly reduced run-time. It permits the modelling of structures which are both larger and more detailed than would otherwise be possible. Octree meshing progressively and automatically lumps together computational cells in regions remote from geometric detail. The ultimate size of the lumped cells is limited only by the local permittivity, permeability and highest frequency of interest. Critical but electrically small detail can be captured with an exceedingly high resolution mesh, while the octree meshing reduces the total cell-count by an order of magnitude.

Automated Mesh Generation

CST MS ensures that the mesh is suitably fine for the frequency band of interest. The mesh is automatically snapped to geometry and refined on curved surfaces and in dielectric regions. The user can "tweak" the mesh in localized regions, or demand a finer mesh in the vicinity of specified objects. The TLM solver allows rapid change in cell dimensions.

Large Models

Octree meshing and sub-cell models mean that CST MS has very low memory requirements. However, for particularly large or demanding models CST MS 64-bit EM simulator allows memory usage to exceed 2Gbytes as well as still taking advantage of multi processors. Available for both PC and UNIX 64bit systems.

Results

Wideband Results

CST MICROSTRIPES™ performs time-domain simulation. A broadband pulse is injected into the antenna feed and the resulting response recorded. Fourier transformation of the response, yields frequency-domain results across the entire band of interest. S-parameters, input impedance, SWR are all available.

Animation

Animate field and surface current plots by phase or by sweeping a field cross-section plane across the structure. Watch timedomain animation of the impulse response.

Visualization of Fields & Radiation Patterns

EM fields, surface currents, wire currents and radiation patterns may be visualized in full 3-D. Each time-domain simulation yields field plots and radiation patterns at up to 99 frequencies.

Arbitrary Pattern Cuts

Arbitrary Pattern Cuts slice through the 3D radiation pattern in any plane and plot the radiated power versus angle, normalized to boresight, isotrope or dipole. Compare E and H planes and co/cross polarizations. Find the antenna gain, front-back ratio and axial ratio.

Results Outside the 'Work-Space'

E and H field, time and frequency domain responses are available at arbitrary points, both inside and outside the ‘work-space’.

Access the Results

All results are available in well-structured data tables, and are exportable in Excelcompatible .csv format. Export S-parameters into Touchstone format.

Phase Center

Use CST MICROSTRIPES™ to find the focus of your feed system.

RCS

Mono-static and bi-static radar cross section can be determined with CST MICROSTRIPES™.

Efficiency

Identify the limitations on radiation efficiency or Q-factor by getting the power absorption of individual bodies.