SPECT3D 21.0.0: Multi-Dimensional Plasma Spectral Analysis Software

SPECT3D 21.0.0 is the latest version of Prism Computational Sciences’ code for simulating atomic and radiative properties of plasmas in laboratory and astrophysical contexts . It is typically used to post-process results from radiation-hydrodynamics or particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations to generate synthetic images and spectra for comparison with experiments . The software is supported on Windows 10+, Linux, and macOS .

Key New Features in Version 21.0.0

Released in September 2025 , this update primarily enhances workflow and user interface with the following improvements:

  • JSON Workspace Support: Added preferences to support JSON-formatted workspace files for more flexible data management .

  • Region Management: Added ability to duplicate Spatial Regions via a right-click context menu .

  • Viewer Controls: New toolbar button added to reset the viewing area .

  • Recent Workspaces: File menu now supports loading recent workspaces for faster project access .

Core Capabilities

SPECT3D provides a comprehensive suite of plasma simulation features :

  • Geometry Support: 1D Cartesian/Cylindrical/Spherical, 2D Cartesian/Cylindrical, and 3D Cartesian .

  • Plasma Physics: LTE and non-LTE atomic level populations; non-Maxwellian electron distributions; steady-state or time-dependent rate equations .

  • Atomic Processes: Collisional ionization/recombination/excitation, photoionization/photoexcitation, spontaneous decay, dielectronic recombination, and autoionization .

  • Spectral Modeling: Doppler, natural (including autoionization), and Stark broadening for line profiles .

  • Visualization: Integrated graphics tools for visualizing hydrocode data and the SPECT3D Visualizer for simulated spectra and images .