Passive materials: Enable the definition of more complex structures / GDML functionality
Description
Since there is work ongoing on an implementation of passive materials (!213 (merged) ) including very basic geometric structures, an follow-up feature could enable more complex passive structures.
This could include the construction of structures via the configuration file (cut out volumes from other objects, use overlap volumes, ...), as well as a possibility to read in GDML (Geometry Description Markup Language) files.
Proposal
The construction of structures via the configuration should be built upon the implementation of passive materials from !213 (merged) . See here for some thoughts on a possible implementation: !213 (comment 3234112)
A GDML reader should be rather straight forward to implement, see link below.
Links / references
GDML user's guide (description of GDML reader for Geant4 on page 44): http://lcgapp.cern.ch/project/simu/framework/GDML/doc/GDMLmanual.pdf
Use cases
Useful for several studies using Geant4's particle interaction with matter for simulating passive structures:
- Simulating test beam or HEP experiments under more realistic conditions
- Material Budget Imaging studies
Feature checklist
Make sure these are completed before closing the issue, with a link to the relevant commit.
-
Complete implementation of basic passive objects in !213 (merged) -
Decide on a scheme for defining complex structures via the configuration -
Implement these methods for defining complex structures via the configuration -
Implement GDML reader (see GDML manual) -
Documentation -
Covered by test cases