In our effort to complete Aether 1.0, it was necessary to concentrate on technical aspects. We included basic plots and interactive features in the Aerial post-processor. The rudimentary capabilities got the job done, but often they don’t display the true quality of the field solutions. With Aether 2.0 (to be released March 1), we had the opportunity to improve both the psychological and functional aspects of the analysis environment. For example, to reduce the glaring contrasts of region plots, we introduced contemporary muted colors that are much more relaxing to look at. We also re-thought the choice of spectral colors for field quantities. Now, areas of low field magnitude appear as dark violet for both mono and bipolar quantities. Hot colors are reserved for regions of high field magnitude. We also added two plot types that provide a clearer view of field variations than the existing element plots: contour lines and filled contours to represent any of the available plot quantities. The first picture shows an example of the contour plot. A good plot makes even a simple electric-field dipole interesting.
As part of the effort, we reorganized and expanded vector tools in the slice plot menu. The second picture shows the available set. The field-line trace and scatter plots are improved versions of existing features.
- Field-line trace. In this mode, Aerial calculates one or more field lines from points specified by clicking the left mouse button. The code plots the projection in the current slice. We added shading to darken the lines when they move away from the slice to provide a better sense of their three-dimensional nature.
- Vector scatter plot. This is the familiar arrow plot. We changed the line segments to arrows and improved the colors and vector density. Vector distributions may be superimposed on any of the plot types, including region plots.
- Field probe. This is an entirely new tool that is entertaining and informative. It was inspired by the Magnaprobe, one of my favorite gadgets from the days when I did experimental work (you can get your own at Arbor Scientific). The third figure shows how it works. When you click on the tool and move the cursor into the slice-plot area, it changes to a semi-transparent probe that rotates about the blue pivot point to show the direction of the chosen field quantity. You can use the probe in conjunction with field-line traces and scatter plots. And there’s a nice feature that makes it even better than the Magnaprobe. The status bar shows the coordinates and magnitude of the vector quantity at the pivot point. Definitely in the category of “amaze your friends!”
