Graphically Driven Optimization Tool for Particle Optics Simulation Programs

40443 November 18, 1996 G. H. Gillespie Associates, Inc. This project will develop a sophisticated graphical user interface (GUI) to support the study and design of charged particle beam optical systems. Expert system features will be combined with state-of-the-art non-linear optimizers and charged particle optics simulation codes to create a windows-based graphically driven analysis tool. Beamlines and accelerator systems are built using drag and drop icons in a window system developed specifically for particle optics modeling. The same beamline may be studied using a variety of simulation programs. The user can easily and graphically define merit functions, constraints, and variation parameters than can span across different particle optics codes, allowing for both hierarchical and multi-application optimization strategies. A modular structure allows the GUI, the optimizer programs and the simulation codes to be customized to each class of accelerator or optics problem. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: The graphical user interface should provide a new software tool that improves scientific productivity in solving complex problems in the optimization of particle accelerator and beamline design. The tool should equip scientists and engineers with new capabilities for efficiently modeling, analyzing and optimizing charged particle beamlines and accelerator systems.