MAGIC Description    FDTD-PIC Software for EM Design and Simulation

The MAGIC Tool Suite includes MAGIC2D, a two- and one-half dimensional code (2D fields and 3D particle kinematics), MAGIC3D, a fully three-dimensional counterpart to MAGIC2D, and POSTER, a general-purpose post-processor.  The MAGIC codes are electromagnetic particle-in-cell codes, i.e., finite-difference, time-domain codes for simulating plasma physics processes, i.e., those processes that involve interactions between space charge and electromagnetic fields.
 
Beginning from a specified initial state, the code simulates a physical process as it evolves in time.  The full set of Maxwell’s time-dependent equations is solved to obtain electromagnetic fields.  Similarly, the complete Lorentz force equation is solved to obtain relativistic particle trajectories, and the continuity equation is solved to provide current and charge densities for Maxwell's equations.  This approach, commonly referred to as electromagnetic particle-in-cell (PIC), provides self-consistence, i.e. interaction between charged particles and electromagnetic fields.  In addition, the code has been provided with powerful algorithms to represent structural geometries, material properties, incoming and outgoing waves, particle emission processes, and so forth.  As a result, the code is applicable to broad classes of plasma physics problems.

MAGIC2D– This application is the 2-1/2 d version of MAGIC.  It is suitable for problems that have a symmetry axis, and an ignorable spatial coordinate.

MAGIC3D – This application is the fully 3d version of MAGIC.  It is suitable for inherently 3-dimensional problems that cannot be run in a reduced dimension application.

Input Builder – This application is a MAGIC workbench environment application which provides enhanced input file building capabilities.  It also offers access to the User’s Manual, sample problems, and the MAGIC executables.  It contains a browser for the electronic copy of the user’s manual, and enables input file editing, saving, and running with the appropriate application.

InputBuilder differs from its predecessor, MUGMAN, in that it loads the outline view (alias tree) of the input file more quickly and its text editor coloring is faster.  The text editor handles text as is, except that it replaces tabs with spaces.  Also, an exclamation mark should not be used within a character string (that is, not between a pair of double quotes).

ReView – This application is the general purpose post-processor for the MAGIC database format.  It is supplied with all versions of MAGIC.
 

Journal Articles Describing MAGIC

"Performance Enhancement of FDTD-PIC Beam-Wave Simulations Using Multi-core Platforms," Andrew J. Woods, Lars D. Ludeking, and David L. Rhoades

“Well Matched Electromagnetic Boundary in FDTD-PIC for Charged Particle Penetration,” Lars D Ludeking, Andrew J. Woods, The Open Plasma Physics Journal (TOPPJ), Peter Stoltz, Ed., Vol. 2, April 2010.

“MAGIC Electromagnetic FDTD-PIC Code Dense Plasma Model Comparison with LSP," Andrew J. Woods and Lars D. Ludeking, paper prepared for the 36th International Conference on Plasma Science, May 31 – June 5, 2009 • San Diego, California.  Published in The Open Plasma Physics Journal (TOPPJ), Peter Stoltz, Ed., Vol. 2, April 2010.

"User-Configurable MAGIC for electromagnetic PIC calculations," Computer Physics Communications 87 (1995) 54-86.

"An Eigenmode Solution Algorithm based on High-order Power Iteration with Fractally Ordered Shifts," David Smithe and Lars D. Ludeking, Computer Physics Communications 106 (1997), pgs. 95-104.
 

Brochure with More Information
 

Commercial Membership in the MAGIC Users Group

Corporations, laboratories, and other institutions performing plasma physics research and design work may join the MAGIC Users Group by licensing the MAGIC software.

Alliant Techsystems Inc.
8560 Cinderbed Rd., Suite 700
Newington,  VA  22122