MAGIC FDTD simulation of complex shapes generated with Sketchup

Abstract

Summary form only given. The MAGIC Tool Suite [1] is FDTD-PIC software designed for the simulation of plasma wave interactions in complex geometries. Complex geometries often require elaborate command language scripts. Thus prototyping a new device can be cumbersome and time consuming. Recent enhancements to MAGIC allow for more efficient generation of several common complex geometries. In addition, by using Trimble Sketchup we can make the process visual and relatively intuitive. We demonstrate the use of Trimble Sketchup to generate complex three dimensional geometries. Sketchup is attractive as an inexpensive modeling tool which allows for customized scripts (plugins) which can then save the geometry to the command data format used by the MAGIC Tool Suite. Sketchup may be customized with an Application Procedural Interface (API), we provide for easy modeling of complex structure such as waveguide, cavities, helices, and serpentine waveguides. The customization includes: Buttons to select particular shapes, visualization control of the shapes, dialogs to specify material properties, and finally export as MAGIC Tool Suite Script commands. Of particular importance is the automatic generation of the MAGIC command script for the geometry and the specification of coordinate system. In this paper we will illustrate the use of Sketchup to generate the geometry models for the following microwave devices: An helix TWT, a Serpentine traveling wave circuit, and a multi-cavity klystron circuit.