Changes in version 1.6 alpha dev (October 29th, 2001)

• Kernel/language
• SHARE: In component definitions, a SHARE keyword followed by a C code block 
     %{...}% acts the same as a DECLARE block, but is only included once in an
     instrument. This is very useful when using many identical components
     (guides, monitors, monochromators) to speed-up compiling and perfomrnaces.
       SHARE
       %{ /* included only once for all identical components */
       %}
       DECLARE
       %{ /* included for all components */
       %}
     Then all component programmers may add C functions to the 'kernel'. This is
     only worth when you plan to use a given component many times in a simulation
     (e.g. not for sources or samples). To downgrade a McStas 1.5 component, just
     move the SHARE block C code into the DECLARE block.
  
• EXTEND: In an instrument definition, within the TRACE section, each COMPONENT
     instance may include a C code block:
       COMPONENT Comp1 = Guide(...)
       AT (...) ROTATED (...)
       EXTEND
       %{ /* some C code to execute after component Comp1 */
          /* in current coordinate system. You may use Comp1 and global */
          /* instrument variables */
       %}
     For instance, you can here give a 'color' (additional neutron   
     characteristic) and modify next components behaviours.
     This block is always executed in groups, but you can test if the component
• GROUP: In an instrument TRACE section, it is possible to put a set of component
     in an exclusive group. Only one of the elements of the group can act on
     the neutron. If no element acts on the neutron, it is absorbed.
     This is specially useful for multi-detectors, multi-monochromators in
     parallel, multiple collimators/guides (e.g. radial).
       COMPONENT Comp1 = Guide(...)
       AT (...) ROTATED (...) GROUP MyGroupName
      
       COMPONENT Comp2 = Guide(...)
       AT (...) ROTATED (...) GROUP MyGroupName
     Comp1 and Comp2 may even be at the same place.
     For programmers: it is important that the component TRACE section contains a
     SCATTER keyword when it successfully intercepts it, to tell McStas that a
     component in a group acts on a neutron, and can skip other comp in the group.
• Library/functionalities at run-time
• The signal handler now gives more info about where a signal was caught.
     For instance it tells in which component part an error occured, to make
     debuging easier.
     Usefull Signals: kill -Signal <pid>
        -USR1: display info and continue simulation
        -USR2: finish simulation and save results
        -QUIT: end simulation immediately
• The 2D detectors now also output the errors/counts on signal as 1D detectors.
     Set p2=NULL in DETECTOR_OUT_2D to unactivate error saving in components.
• There are now new MACROS for the component programmer.
       * mccompcurindex is the number (index) of the current component
         (1 is first component of instrument)
       * RESTORE_NEUTRON(index, x, y, z, vx, vy, vz, t, sx, sy, sz, p)
         restores the neutron state to the one at the input of the component
         'index'. To ignore a component effect, use
         RESTORE_NEUTRON(mccompcurindex, x, y, z, vx, vy, vz, t, sx, sy, sz, p)
         at the end of its TRACE section, or in its EXTEND section.
         These neutron states are in the local component coordinate systems.
       * STORE_NEUTRON(index, x, y, z, vx, vy, vz, t, sx, sy, sz, p)
         stores the current neutron state in the trace-history table, in local
         coordinate system. This is automatically done when entering each
         component of an instrument.
       * POS_A_COMP_INDEX(index) is the absolute position of component
         'index'. POS_A_COMP_INDEX(mccompcurindex) is the same as
         POS_A_CURRENT_COMP. You may use POS_A_COMP_INDEX(mccompcurindex+1) to
         make, for instance, your component access the position of the next
         component (this is usefull for automatic targeting).
       * SCATTERED is non zero when previous component acted on neutron (let pass
         or scatter)
• Warning: programmers, do not use anymore the 'mccompcurname' when writing
     your components. rather use the 'NAME_CURRENT_COMP'.
  
• McStas tools (mcrun, mcplot, mcgui, etc...)
• In 'mcplot', it is possible to use the -ps, -psc and -gif options to
     generate a PS, color PS, and GIF file, and exit mcplot (no display).
• Updated/modified components
• The Monitor_nD was upgraded to correct bugs when reaching the component
     (the propagation was not performed correctly in some cases), and the disk/
     sphere radius (monitor remained then squared). This component now uses
     the SHARE block. A bug was corrected for lists. It can output log and abs of
     signals, and source files (see Source_file).
• The Gravity_guide now handles correctly the focusing multichannel guides.
     Gravitation is included (on y axis). This component now uses the SHARE block.
     The Channeled_guide does not handle properly the focusing multichannels.
• Moved to obsolete components (usually because they awere renamed):
          monitors: PSD_monitor_4PI_log.comp, PSD_bidim.comp, PSD_curved.comp,
            PSD_entry.comp,
          samples: Powder0.comp
          optics:
              Beamstop_circular Beamstop_rectangular (gathered into Beamstop)
              First_Chopper (included in Chopper)
              Circular_slit (included in Slit)
              Guide2
              Monochromator0
              Circular_slit
              Soller_trans.comp
• tested and corrected components
• misc: Vitess_input/output: included Spin from Vitess. (vitess-lib.c/h)
            but can not be used as mcstas can not find vitess-lib.c/h. I included
            what was needed in SHARE sections. now works OK.
• samples:
              Single_crystal (now can take lattice angles, forgot a %} at SHARE
                end)
              provide *.dat diffraction samples from Crystallographic
  
• optics:
              Beamstop now is a merging of Beamstop_circular and
                Beamstop_rectangular (using default  values to select shape)
              Channeled_guide: now output an error in multichannel focusing mode.
              Chopper: determined default values to have lambda~4 AA. Can handle
                First_Chopper (parameter IsFirst)
              Fermi_Chopper : default values for transmission every ~2 AA
              Gravity_guide: limit loops to max of 1000 bounces for each
                components (to avoid endless loops)
              Mosaic_anisotropic: can take DM (d-spacing). default for graphite.
              Powder_filter (did not work at all, now can take lattice angles,
                also works as a sample, can take samples/*.dat diffraction files)
              Selector: default values for transmission at ~4 AA
              Slit: now is a merging of Slit and Circular_slit (using default
                values to select shape)
              Soller: can take transmission
              V_selector: default values for transmission at ~4 AA
  
• sources
              Source_gen: can handle all previous sources in one component (up to
                3 Maxwellians). Corrected homogeneity bug for illumination.
              Source_file: can read 'source' files from Vitess, text files (both
                90 bytes/neutron) and float binary  files (e.g, from Monitor_nD
                with options="list all, source binary" which is more compact in 
                size, 48  bytes/neutron). Autorecognition of the format. The MCNP
                output is not fixed. Just tell MCNP  guys to output the float
                binary or text file.
  
• New components
• The Source_gen component focuses uniformly on the target, and can model
     rectangular, disk, gaussian, and Maxwellian (up to 3 distributions) sources.
     Previous source components did not focus correctly on the target. They were
     also corrected, execpt the 'Source_Maxwell'. Source_gen can replace all thee
     previous sources.
• A new Source_file component can take as input a text file containing an
     array with columns ' x y z vx vy vz t sx sy sz p', such as the data files
     generated from Monitor_nD with options="list all source". The source may
     be re-generated more than once, which is useful to improve accuracy,
     specially when further components do MC choices. Vitess files and float
     binary files are also ok (auto-recognition of format).
• We tried to lower the number of components by merging similar ones.