Field Marshal Simulation Environment

The Field Marshal Electromagnetic Simulation Environment (EM-SE) will provide a "virtual laboratory" for high-voltage radiation source research and design. The environment will be based on a modern scriptable programming language (Python) for usability and flexibility, finite difference techniques for extensibility and ease of maintenance, and multigrid techniques to enhance speed and power. Reduced development costs result from use of free, open-source software and internet-based distributed development tools. The Field Marshal EM-SE will support the key physical processes necessary for design and simulation of high-voltage sources including: (1) electron emission from moving cathode plasma surfaces, (2) scattering of energetic electrons from metals and insulating materials, (3) high-voltage electrical breakdown on insulator surfaces, (4) intense heat fluxes, (5) x-ray generation and effects, and (6) detailed structural visualization. Two key benefits of the Field Marshal approach will be more "intuitive" user interactions with high-power microwave (HPM) simulation tools and lower tool costs. Rather than produce expensive generic tools which researchers must adapt (or adapt to), developers can deliver affordable applications tuned to the specific needs of the HPM community.