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@INPROCEEDINGS{Lieutenant:1043658,
author = {Lieutenant, K. and Brandl, G. and Felder, C. and Mattauch,
S.},
title = {{V}irtual experiments in live mode by running digital twins
of {MLZ} instruments using {VITESS}},
reportid = {FZJ-2025-02960},
year = {2025},
abstract = {In the beginning, neutron instrument simulation software
was mainly used to optimize instrument designs in terms of
high flux and favorable beam properties at the sample
position. Then it was extended to virtual experiments by
adding sample and detector in the simulation. They are used
to check the instrument performance in terms of the final
output, to test data evaluation software and to find the
best instrument settings for planned real experiments. Now,
the neutron facilities have started running digital twins of
their instruments, among them the Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum
(MLZ) running the FRM-II reactor in Garching close to
Munich.In a present project at MLZ, digital twins are
developed that are based on the simulation program VITESS.
The simulations are embedded in the NICOS operation system,
which is used to run real experiments. It allows changing
parameters (like slit sizes, device positions, etc.) during
the simulation so that a virtual experiment is operated like
a real experiment and is ideally also as fast – we have
called it ‘live mode’. This is realized by reading an
interface during the simulation and changing the simulation
parameters on the fly.Both, the integration of the VITESS
simulation into NICOS and the parameter change on the fly
work. It is realized for the reflectometer MARIA, the
diffractometer POWTEX and the time-of-flight spectrometer
TOPAS.As a virtual experiment appears like a real
experiment, it enables training of users before the
beamtime, which - in combination with testing instrument
settings - allows a much more efficient use of the beamtime.
Therefore, it is planned that all MLZ instruments have
digital twins for testing and training purposes, either
based on VITESS or on McStas simulations.},
month = {Jul},
date = {2025-07-06},
organization = {The International Conference on
Neutron Scattering, Bella Center in
Copenhagen, Denmark, with the last day
at the European Spallation Source (ESS)
in nearby Lund, Sweden (Denmark), 6 Jul
2025 - 10 Jul 2025},
subtyp = {Invited},
cin = {JCNS-2 / JARA-FIT / JCNS-FRM-II / JCNS-4},
cid = {I:(DE-Juel1)JCNS-2-20110106 / $I:(DE-82)080009_20140620$ /
I:(DE-Juel1)JCNS-FRM-II-20110218 /
I:(DE-Juel1)JCNS-4-20201012},
pnm = {632 - Materials – Quantum, Complex and Functional
Materials (POF4-632) / 6G4 - Jülich Centre for Neutron
Research (JCNS) (FZJ) (POF4-6G4)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-632 / G:(DE-HGF)POF4-6G4},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)6},
url = {https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1043658},
}