How CurveSimulator works

CurveSimulator's Core Algorithm

CurveSimulator operates through the following main steps:

• Parameter Acquisition

  • Read parameters from the configuration file.

• System Initialization

  • Initialize celestial bodies.
  • If not provided in the config file, calculate each body's state vector from its Kepler orbit parameters.

• Iterative Simulation

  Starting with initial state vectors (positions and velocities) for all bodies:

  • Calculate eclipses and resulting total luminosity of the star system.
  • Project body positions after a short time interval (as defined in the config file), assuming linear motion.
  • Compute inter-body gravitational forces and update velocities accordingly.
  • Proceed to the next iteration with updated positions and velocities.

• Video Generation

  • Select a subsample of calculated positions and luminosities for animation.
  • Generate individual frames using matplotlib (1 frame per sampling_rate iterations).
  • Compile frames into a video using ffmpeg.

Note: The physics simulation runs much faster than the animation process, hence the use of subsampling for video creation.