New Cython-base raytracing framework

The core tracing functions of Raypier have been re-written using Cython, a tool for creating compiled C-extension modules using a python-like language. The new architecture performs substantially better than the previous numpy-based design (In a 4-mirror model, 8x faster than numpy for 60 rays, 25x faster for 1000 rays and 75x faster for 2500 rays).

The main tracing functionality is provided by three new (compiled) modules:
  • ctracer

  • cfaces

  • cmaterials

“ctracer” provides the following extension types:
  • Ray

  • RayCollection

  • Face (abstract base class)

  • FaceList

  • InterfaceMaterial (abstract base class)

  • PECMaterial

  • DielectricMaterial

  • Transform

..moduleauthor:: Bryan Cole <bryancole.cam@googlemail.com>

class ctracer.Ray

Ray is a wrapper class around the ray_t structure.

class ctracer.RayCollection(max_size)

A RayCollection is a wrapper around a C-array of ray_t.

add_ray(ray)

ray is an instance of Ray. Adds the given Ray to the array