Transmission-line matrix (TLM): a novel technique for modelling reaction kinetics

Abstract

The impulse analysis of a transmission line analogue (TLM) is a technique which has been successfully applied to many problems where behaviour is more frequently treated by means of either analytical or numerical solutions of differential equations. These include electromagnetic propagation, particle and electrical diffusion in semiconductors, heat flow etc. This paper provides an introduction to the technique. Several examples are presented together with a flow diagram for a simple TLM algorithm. The examples which involve diffusion and recombination of minority carriers in semiconductors are novel and could be adapted for modelling reaction-kinetic problems.