Abstract
Integral equations modeling complex electromagnetic structures are solved numerically using the method of moments and iterative solvers whenever the system matrix is large. Fast-solvers can be used if the system matrix is well conditioned, which only happens by using appropriate formulations, or by re-conditioning the system of equations with algebraic preconditioners. In the case of surface integral equations, well-established techniques exist if the expansion functions are low-order vector polynomials, for example RWG functions. This paper instead considers surface integral equations discretized by additive bases formed by high-order polynomials and singular functions, showing that the electric field integral equation (EFIE) can be successfully solved by using a special general-purpose algebraic preconditioner.