THE UNIVERSAL ACCELERATOR PARSER

To promote the sharing of lattice description files between modeling codes, a new lattice description standard named the Accelerator Markup Language (AML) has been developed. Based upon the standard eXtensible Markup Language (XML) format, AML has extensive capabilities for modeling accelerators. Additionally, since it is based upon XML, AML has the flexibility to be easily extended to satisfy changing requirements. Thisflexibility allows for AML files to be used beyond lattice descriptions to act as a database of accelerator information. In conjunction with AML, an open source software library called the Universal Accelerator Parser (UAP) is being developed. This library, when integrated into a program, enables the reading of AML lattice files. Included in the UAP software are routines for expression evaluation and beam line expansion so that a “flat” lattice that represents each lattice element is easily constructed. Furthermore, the UAP library is structured so that it can accommodate language modules that read in lattice files using formats other than AML. Specifically, modules for reading MAD-8 and MAD-X format lattices are being developed. As an added benefit, the UAP can act as a translator between the languages it has modules for.