MALTS: A Tool to Simulate Lorentz Transmission Electron Microscopy From Micromagnetic Simulations

Here we describe the development of the MALTS software which is a generalized tool that simulates Lorentz Transmission Electron Microscopy (LTEM) contrast of magnetic nanostructures. Complex magnetic nanostructures typically have multiple stable domain structures. MALTS works in conjunction with the open access micromagnetic software Object Oriented Micromagnetic Framework or MuMax. Magnetically stable trial magnetization states of the object of interest are input into MALTS and simulated LTEM images are output. MALTS computes the magnetic and electric phases accrued by the transmitted electrons via the Aharonov-Bohm expressions. Transfer and envelope functions are used to simulate the progression of the electron wave through the microscope lenses. The final contrast image due to these effects is determined by Fourier Optics. Similar approaches have been used previously for simulations of specific cases of LTEM contrast. The novelty here is the integration with micromagnetic codes via a simple user interface enabling the computation of the contrast from any structure. The output from MALTS is in good agreement with both experimental data and published LTEM simulations. A widely-available generalized code for the analysis of Lorentz contrast is a much needed step towards the use of LTEM as a standardized laboratory technique.

A Structured Approach to Simulate Manufacturing System In Virtual Environment

Nowadays, the realization of the Virtual Factory (VF) is the strategic goal of many manufacturing enterprises for the coming years. The industrial scenario is characterized by the dynamics of innovations increment and the product life cycle became shorter. Furthermore products and the corresponding manufacturing processes get more and more complex. Therefore, companies need new methods for the planning of manufacturing systems.
To date, the efforts have focused on the creation of an integrated environment to design and manage the manufacturing process of a new product. The future goal is to integrate Virtual Reality (VR) tools into the Product Lifecycle Management of the manufacturing industries.
In order to realize this goal the authors have conducted a study to perform VF simulation steps for a supplier of Industrial Automation Systems and have provided a structured approach focusing on interaction between simulation software and VR hardware tools in order to simulate both robotic and
manual work cells.
The first results of the study in progress have been carried out in the VR Laboratory of the Competence Regional Centre for the qualification of the Transportation Systems that has been founded by Campania Region.