Comparison of different optimization strategies in the design of electromagnetic devices

Both higher-order deterministic optimization methods (steepest-descent, conjugate gradient, quasi-Newton) and zeroth-order stochastic optimization methods ((µ + λ)-evolution strategy) have been tested for designing electromagnetic devices. The underlying field analyses have involved the Finite Element Method in 2-D and 3-D, both linear and nonlinear. Numerical experiments indicate some preference for the (µ + λ)-evolution strategy not only as concerns its robustness and generality, but also its speed of convergence.