The TAO Accelerator Simulation Program

A new accelerator design and analysis simulation program based on the Bmad relativistic charged particle dynamics library has been developed at Cornell University. Called Tao (Tool for Accelerator Optics), it implements the essential ingredients needed to solve many simulation problems. This includes the ability to design lattices subject to constraints, simulate errors and changes in machine parameters, and simulate machine commissioning including simulating data measurement and correction. Tao is designed to be easily customizable so that extending it to solve new and different problems is relatively straight forward. The capability to simultaneously model multiple accelerator lattices, both LINACs and storage rings, along with the ability to inject from one lattice to another allows for the design and commissioning of large multi stage accelerators.