Abstract:In this paper, a new higher order Alternating Direction Implicit Finite-Difference Time-Domain (ADI-FDTD) formulation in particular, a second-order-in-time, fourth-order-in-space AD-FDTD method is presented for the first time. At the same time ,the unconditional stability of the higher order ADI-FDTD formulation is analytically proved. By analysis of the amplification factors, the numerical dispersion relation is derived. In addition, the numerical dispersion errors are investigated. Finally numerical results indicate that the higher order ADI-FDTD has s better accuracy compared to the ADI-FDTD method.