Simulations with multiple clouds

A simulation can include more than one cloud. Each cloud feels the space charge of the others, and cross-ionization processes between clouds can be defined.

Main input

Add these parameters to simulation_parameters.input:

Parameter	Description
`additional_clouds_file_list`	Optional, default `[]`. List of additional cloud file names.
`cross_ion_definitions`	Optional, default `None`. Dictionary describing the cross-ionization processes (see this presentation for details).

Cloud files

Each cloud file contains a subset of the parameters of the main input files.

Required parameters

Parameter	Description
`cloud_mass`, `cloud_charge`	See Simulation parameters.
`gas_ion_flag`, `photoem_flag`, `init_unif_flag`, `init_unif_edens_flag`	See Machine parameters.
`switch_model`	See Secondary emission parameters.

Optional parameters

A cloud file can also contain the following parameters. Any parameter missing from the cloud file takes its value from the main input files, or its default if it is not set there either.

Parameters	Reference
MP management, saving, log and progress files	Simulation parameters
`N_sub_steps`	Machine parameters: `'BorisMultipole'`
Residual gas ionization, photoemission, uniform initial distribution and density	Machine parameters
Secondary emission	Secondary emission parameters

Each cloud writes its own .mat output file, named after the main output file and the cloud file. The contents are described in the output reference.