The Test-Particle Monte Carlo code Molflow+: hands-on approach with examples

Course Trainer
Dr Roberto Kersevan
Vacuum, Surfaces and Coatings Group, Technology Department, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 June 2024 (2-day course)
10am to 5pm Saturday and 9am to 4pm Sunday
Crowne Plaza, Harrogate

Cost: £120pp (included in the fee: access to the course, refreshments and lunch each day)

Book online

Course objectives

The aim of the course is to show how the open source ray-tracing code Molflow+ can be used to model and analyse vacuum systems of all kinds, from kilometre-scale accelerators and gravitational-wave detectors down to micromechanical devices. At the end of the course, the novice user will be able to create a model of any vacuum system, and simulate its behaviour under conditions usually found on laboratory vacuum systems and industrial applications as well.

Course description

Brief introduction to the Test Particle Monte Carlo simulation method and its applicability to molecular flow; a quick review of Molflow+’s historical development and file formats.
Review of the main feature, menus, and options of the code by working on a simple model of a NEG-pump attached to a chamber, starting from an STL file created by a CAD program.
Series of examples showing validation of the code against results available in literature, in different fields: accelerators, gas dynamics fundamentals, micromechanical devices, if time allows more in-depth features will be highlighted.

It is left to the participants to either only follow the trainer or to try and run the same examples on their laptop computers; in the latter case, they should make sure that they have the latest version of the code installed on the laptop and ready to run, together with the sample files. A dedicated entry on the Molflow+ web site will be created before the conference date, at the address https://molflow.web.cern.ch/node/109, section “Tutorials”, entry “EVC-17”. Any installations are undertaken at individual's own risk.

Who should attend? This training is intended for anyone with an interest in this field.

Course materials

The participant wishing to replicate the work of the trainer on his/her laptop will have to make sure that the latest public version of the code is downloaded and running on his/her computer. Please visit the dedicated web page which will be created at and follow the instructions on the pdf file at address https://molflow.web.cern.ch/node/109, section “Tutorials”, entry “EVC-17”. Working on Molflow+ is more efficient if a mouse is used: please bring one along if you plan to use your own laptop. Any installations are undertaken at individual's own risk.