An explicit variational principle for the propagation constant of guiding structures is compared to the finite-element method using a functional involved in the explicit variational principle formalism. Values of the propagation constant yielded by the finite-element method are shown to be stationary about the discretized field. Comparative;e results show how the convergence is influenced by the differing nature of the explicit unknown (field for finite elements, propagation constant for the explicit variational principle). (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huynen, I., & Raida, Z. (1998). Comparison of finite-element method with variational analytical methods for planar guiding structures. Microwave & Optical Technology Letters, 18(4), 252-258. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-2760(199807)18:4<252::AID-MOP5>3.0.CO;2-D (Original work published 1998)