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Shape Generator for the DDSCAT software
This Matlab Graphical User Interface walks users through creating custom 3D shapes. It then generates the target and parameter files that are required to simulate the created shapes in the Discrete Dipole Approximation software.
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Abstract
Youtube video link showing program in use: https://youtu.be/pyZiAao37Bk
Description
This Matlab Graphical User Interface walks users through creating custom 3D shapes. It then generates the target and parameter files that are required to simulate the created shapes in the Discrete Dipole Approximation software. Simply run the program and it will provide you with parameters to select/adjust. More details about the program have been commented throughout the code.
Abstract
An open-source software was created to improve the design, description, and implementation of nanophotonic antennae into optoelectronics, such as solar panels or nanoscopic optical fibers. This nanostructure design suite creates Target and Parameter files required by discrete dipole approximation (DDA) package DDSCAT to solve Maxwell’s equations for electromagnetic absorption/scattering of a user-specified nanostructure comprised of arbitrary, complex dielectric materials. Nanospheres, nanodiscs, nanoellipses, nanorings, nanocones, and nanocubes of solid and hollow architecture with optional substrate support by two-dimensional (e.g. graphene) or three-dimensional (e.g. quartz) materials can be generated by the design suite. The Target file contains 10k+ discrete Cartesian coordinates according to volumetric discretization of a user-specified nanoarchitecture into a cubic lattice of point dipoles. The parameter file contains 34 simulation parameters which DDSCAT does not pre-define (e.g. wavelength range, medium index, or polarization), and which may be unique for each simulation. Target and Parameter files can take users 1-3 weeks to generate per simulation, making meta-analysis of geometry changes difficult across a large parametric range. These processes were automated by programming a design suite to instantaneously construct target point locations and accompanying electromagnetic parameters for user-desired nanoantennae-substrate simulation scenarios. The suite was outfit with a facile graphical interface (GUI) that walks any multi-disciplinary researcher through steps to antenna generation. The suite has been published on nanoHUB for free, worldwide use to enable efficient design/description of emerging nanoantennae for a variety of optoelectronic applications.
Sponsored by
- Arkansas Science & Technology Authority Research Internship (awarded to MS)
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (awarded to GTF)
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
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