Enhancing The Teaching Of Electromagnetic Using Differential Forms

During the past three years we have introduced our electromagnetics students to differential forms. We teach a sequence of 3 c ourses in electromagnetic fundamentals at BYU. The sequence begins with basic principles and concludes with advanced concepts, including Greens functions, asymptotic met hods, and anisotropic materials. In addition to these basic principles c ourses, we offer app lications courses in antennas, microwave circuit design, remote sensing, radar, nonlinear and Fourier op tics, and fiber optics. We have found that expressing basic electromagnetic principles in terms of differential forms as a supplement to vector analysis aids the students at all levels in understanding electromagnetic theory.