Beam Optics Analysis - An Advanced 3D Trajectory Code

Summary form only given. Calabazas Creek Research, Inc. has completed initial development of an advanced, 3D program for modelling electron trajectories in electromagnetic fields. The code is currently used for designing complex guns and collectors. Beam optics analysis (BOA) is a fully relativistic, charged particle code using adaptive, finite element meshing. We believe this is the most powerful and easiest program available for modelling charged particle devices. This presentation will describe the principle features of the program and its capabilities. BOA simulates electron trajectories in 3D electromagnetic fields and geometries. Geometrical input is imported from any CAD program generating ACIS-formatted files, which includes essentially all commercial CAD programs. Parametric input is inputted using an intuitive, graphical user interface (GUI), which also provides control of convergence, accuracy, and post processing. The key feature is the adaptive, finite element meshing. This dramatically simplifies problem set-up and allows users to revise and simulate complex 3D problems in minutes. The generation of the initial mesh is fully automatic, though parameters are available for controlling the initial mesh density. In most cases, the accuracy of the finite element solvers provides sufficient accuracy without requiring mesh adaptivity. For high accuracy, the adaptive meshing routines refine the mesh density were necessary to achieve user specified accuracy. The spent beam data for injected beams can be imported directly from Magic2D, Magic3D and Christine or created in BOA format. BOA will internally perform the time averaging of currents in the Magic2D/3D or phase averaging of particles initial conditions in Christine. The code currently imports magnetic field data from other programs, but the internal magnetic field solver is nearing completion. When completed, the full electrostatics, magnetostatics, and beam optics design can be completed within BOA