Components#

simtools provides tools to configure, run, and analyze simulations and to manage simulation model parameters. It integrates the components listed below into a modular simulation framework.

The main components are:

  • simulation software like CORSIKA and sim_telarray

  • simulation models and parameters, setting and validation procedures

  • reading and writing simulation data

Simulation Software#

The following simulation software packages are used by simtools:

  • CORSIKA: Air shower simulation software.

  • sim_telarray: Telescope simulation software for ray tracing, triggering, and camera-level simulation.

  • obdeect: Packaged C++ optical ray-tracing backend.

  • ROBAST (used externally for dedicated optics workflows)

Note

Simulation software is external to simtools and developed by the respective teams. The integration of these components into simtools is done through interfaces, allowing for flexibility and future updates.

Simulation Models#

Simulation models and parameters describe the properties of all relevant elements of the observatory, including site, telescopes, and calibration devices.

I/O using pyeventio#

pyeventio is a python library for reading the output of the simulation software (EventIO data format used by sim_telarray). pyeventio is external to simtools, but an essential component for reading simulation output data by the CTAO pipelines.

Additional Components#

  • Geomagnetic-field tools used to derive model inputs.