The efficient computation of intrinsic frequencies of resonators is presented by an FDTD computation using a new excitation function and a subsequent application of Prony's method. For an accurate extraction of the frequencies, the excitation function must be rather short in the rime domain, as well as having a well-defined frequency content. A sine-type excitation function allows very short simulation times, as well as convenient computation near the Courant limit. The sampling of Prony's method starts after the excitation has decayed, a point in time well defined with the new excitation. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.