Interpolating Frequency Sweeps in Q3D Extractor

An interpolating sweep estimates a solution for an entire frequency range. Q3D Extractor chooses the frequency points at which to solve the field solution so that the entire interpolated solution lies within a specified error tolerance. The sweep is complete when the solution meets the error tolerance criterion or generates the maximum number of solutions. To view more information about the solution, increase the number of steps and perform the sweep again.

The field solution for each point is deleted so that a new field solution can be generated for the next point. The full-field solution is only saved for the final frequency point computed. The S-parameters are saved for every solved frequency point.

Choose an interpolating sweep if the frequency range is wide and the frequency response is smooth, or if the memory requirements of a sweep exceed your resources. An interpolating sweep's time requirement is much less than a discrete sweep's because a solution for the entire frequency range is interpolated based on solutions for a minimal number of frequency points. The maximum time required for an interpolating sweep is the time required for a single frequency solution multiplied by the maximum number of solutions.

Be aware that Q3D Extractor uses the refined mesh during an adaptive solution at the solution frequency or, if you did not request an adaptive solution, the initial mesh generated for the problem. It uses this mesh without further refinement.

The procedure for an interpolating sweep is shown below, where n frequencies determined by the system are included in the sweep.