Three-dimensional finite-difference modeling of time-domain electromagnetic responses for a large-loop source

The time-domain/transient electromagnetic (TEM) method employs an alternating magnetic field that is established by passing a bidirectional pulsed current through a transmitter loop. A large wire loop on or above the earth is one of the most widely used sources in TEM survey systems. To simulate TEM responses of the large loop system, the effect of the loop size must be considered in a numerical modeling scheme. We have developed an efficient three-dimensional (3D) TEM modeling algorithm using a staggered-grid finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. In this paper, we first derive FDTD TEM equations using fictitious displacement currents based on an explicit mid-point method. Then, we employed a conversion method to efficiently obtain stepoff TEM responses from step-on responses. Further, following the concept of the conversion method, the charging and discharging processes of current waveform in loop does not need to be identical, implying we can apply the simulation scheme for more general source waveforms. The developed algorithm has been verified through comparison of numerical results for a homogeneous halfspace medium. Finally, we analyze TEM responses generated from a large loop source for a 3D conductive body buried in a homogeneous half space.