CST E-News December 2006
Welcome to the December issue of CST's E-News, our new series of regular news updates.
We hope that you find the contents relevant, interesting and informative. Any feedback
and suggestions for future editions would be welcomed.
News in brief
- CST MWS 2006B now shipping
- Performance tuning
- User forum
- New in CST PS: Wake field solver
- University award
- International video editions of Getting Started
- Application notes
1. CST MWS 2006B
CST STUDIO SUITE™ 2006B has now been released and shipping has commenced.
Commercial customers should all receive their update before Christmas, and shipment
to our university customers is scheduled for the new year.
Details of new features and improved functionality are available for customers in
the support area of our website, and an overview can be downloaded from CST_MWS_2006B_low.pdf.
2. Performance tuning by CST
The optimal use of hardware is currently a hot topic which is often discussed and
frequently advertised. There are basically two branches of development, code optimization
and hardware acceleration, both of which are supported by CST's R&D.
Firstly there is code optimization using the latest software and computer technology
(the Multi-CPU Multi-Core systems by Intel for example).
This technology is extremely versatile and theoretically applicable to all CST solvers
with no feature restrictions, but peak performance values might be lower than those
achievable with hardware acceleration boards.
When using CST MICROWAVE STUDIO® 2006B (CST MWS)’s Transient or Frequency Domain
solvers with the multiprocessor option on a new multi-CPU system - currently "Woodcrest"
(Xeon 5100 series) systems are recommended – you will experience a striking performance
gain for all applications. Parallel processing on older dual cpu systems has also
been improved.
Secondly there is the so-called hardware acceleration using special hardware acceleration
boards. This technology is dedicated to the Transient solver but limited to problems
that do not exceed 1 Gbyte of memory.
The speed-up can be good depending on the application but entails the explicit implementation
of all required features on these boards, otherwise the desired performance improvement
will not be achieved.
In the context of performance tuning, CST’s Distributed Computing option should
also get a mention. With this approach you can employ several computers to solve,
for example, a parameter sweep or optimization problem.
3. User forum
A much requested user forum is now available in the support area of our website.
We hope that you find it a useful medium to exchange tips & tricks, information,
and experience with your peers. Please keep in mind that this forum is not an "official"
support channel and that your local application engineer will be happy to answer
your support requests.
4. CST PARTICLE STUDIO® features wake field solver
With the release of CST STUDIO SUITE™ 2006B, CST PARTICLE STUDIO® (CST
PS) features a wake field solver.
A particle bunch is accompanied by its own electromagnetic fields. As long as it
travels through a perfectly conducting straight tube nothing happens. But when it
passes structural changes or imperfections, like cavities, tapers, bends, and so
on, it excites electromagnetic waves which can act back on the bunch itself or on
the following bunches. These are the so-called wake fields.
With the implementation of the wake field solver in CST PS, the accelerator community
now has access to the well known MAFIA-4 functionality but with the advantages of
the PERFECT BOUNDARY APPROXIMATION (PBA)®, a user friendly interface, and flexible
meshing. CST PS is additionally able to deal with non ultrarelativistic bunches.
5. CST University Publication Award 2006 - Winners Announced
Now in its third year, the CST University Publication Award has attracted twice
as many contributions as in 2005, and the quality is outstanding.
Prerequisites for participation are that the papers are authored or co-authored
by academic researchers, published either in scientific journals or conference proceedings,
and the numerical results are entirely or in part obtained through simulation using
CST software products. Submissions are evaluated on a number of criteria including
originality of the application or the theory, clarity of presentation, as well as
the skilful usage of CST software features.
The 4 papers selected to receive the CST University Publication Award 2006 can be
found at http://www.cst.com/Content/Company/UniAward2006.aspx.
All participating papers as well as other publications involving CST software are
now listed on our website
http://www.cst.com/Content/References/Default.aspx.
Published papers are copyright protected and so CST can not distribute copies; abstracts
however may be viewed on our website. We have additionally provided links where,
to the best of our knowledge, the papers can be obtained.
Details of the University Publication Award 2007 can be found at
http://www.cst.com/Content/Company/UniProgram.aspx.
6. International video editions of Getting Started now available
International video editions of the CST MWS Getting Started handbook are now available
from the support section of our website. Users can choose between English, traditional
& simplified Chinese, and Portuguese versions, and Japanese & French videos are
expected in Q1 2007.
7. Application notes
New application articles are regularly being added to our website. Recent additions
include "RCS and Surface Current Simulation" examples using the new "I!
solver", and the "Simulation of a Depressed Collector using CST PS".
http://www.cst.com/Content/Applications/Applications.aspx
Journal articles referring to simulations using CST tools include "Micromachining
Concept on GaAs and a mm-Wave Oscillator Example" by Sing and Pai, ISRO Satellite
Centre, published in High Frequency Design, and can be found at
http://www.cst.com/Content/Products/Articles.aspx.
Details of exhibitions, workshops and trainings can be found on our
events page.
Your CST Team
CST - Changing the Standards
Computer Simulation Technology
info@cst.com,
www.cst.com