SAOTrace software suite accurately simulates as-built performance of grazing-angle X-ray optics through ray tracing.
SAOTrace is a suite of software designed to simulate the performance of grazing-angle X-ray optics using the ray-tracing approach. The software is derived from portions of the NASA OSAC software suite and is a powerful tool for modeling nested conical and flat optical designs. SAOTrace also has the capability to model arbitrary support structures and baffles, making it a versatile and flexible system for performing trade and sensitivity studies of non-ideal optical systems.
One of the key features of SAOTrace is its ability to model non-ideal multi-layer reflective coatings as well as scattering from optical surfaces. The software was primarily designed as an engineering tool for the Chandra (formerly AXAF) X-ray telescope and has been in use by a small group of in-house engineers and scientists since the early 1990s.
It is important to note that SAOTrace does not have a "commercial" polish to it. The documentation is uneven, and there is no system level documentation that provides an overview of the package and its capabilities. However, despite these shortcomings, SAOTrace is a capable and flexible system for simulating the final performance of the as-built telescope for the Chandra mission.
Overall, SAOTrace is a highly useful and valuable tool for performing trade and sensitivity studies of non-ideal optical systems. Its ability to model nested conical and flat optical designs as well as arbitrary support structures and baffles makes it a versatile and flexible system for any optical simulation needs.
One of the key features of SAOTrace is its ability to model non-ideal multi-layer reflective coatings as well as scattering from optical surfaces. The software was primarily designed as an engineering tool for the Chandra (formerly AXAF) X-ray telescope and has been in use by a small group of in-house engineers and scientists since the early 1990s.
It is important to note that SAOTrace does not have a "commercial" polish to it. The documentation is uneven, and there is no system level documentation that provides an overview of the package and its capabilities. However, despite these shortcomings, SAOTrace is a capable and flexible system for simulating the final performance of the as-built telescope for the Chandra mission.
Overall, SAOTrace is a highly useful and valuable tool for performing trade and sensitivity studies of non-ideal optical systems. Its ability to model nested conical and flat optical designs as well as arbitrary support structures and baffles makes it a versatile and flexible system for any optical simulation needs.
What's New
Version 1.0.0b1: N/A