OOPIC: object oriented particle-in-cell code

Summary form only given, as follows. OOPIC is an object oriented particle-in-cell (PIC) code framework designed as a testbed for PIC algorithms. OOPIC consists of three principal components: the graphical user interface (GUI), the expect advisor, and the physics kernel. The GUI includes a geometry editor, an interactive, windowing visualization system, printing and file output capability, and simulation control capability. The expert advisor handles parsing parameter input files, saving modified parameter sets, and applying rules and constraints to ensure the consistency of the simulation. The physics kernel is a framework for diverse models which can be selected dynamically at run time. OOPIC currently includes electrostatic and electromagnetic field solvers, a Boltzmann electron option (m/sub c//spl rarr/0), Cartesian and cylindrical non-uniform grids in two-dimensions. Particle modeling includes relativistic and non-relativistic optimizations, a number of models for collecting charge and current densities, and current corrections including full Poisson and Marder corrections. Boundary conditions in the electrostatic model include dielectrics and equipotential surfaces connected to ground via external RLC circuits. Electromagnetic boundary conditions include TEM, TE and TM wave launchers, a number of wave absorbing models, conductors, and surface impedance models. A number of particle emission models and symmetry boundaries work in both EM and ES, and any boundaries can be configured as complex internal structures. OOPIC runs under the Windows operating system on 80/spl times/86 computers. The advisor and physics kernel also run under XGrafix, a basic visualization system, on Unix workstations.