diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 2a1863fcf..bee2a181e 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -522,11 +522,11 @@ Semi-interacting bodies are useful because the integrator is not required to cal **What should minimum fragment mass should I use (**```MIN_GMFRAG``` **or** ```MIN_MFRAG```**)?** -This mass threshold is necessary to ensure that Swiftest SyMBA does not generate huge amounts of very small fragments, grinding the model to a halt. While this value is largely empirical and dependent on each specific set of initial conditions, a good place to start is to set the minimum fragment mass threshold to be one tenth the size of the smallest body in your simulation. +This mass threshold is necessary to ensure that Swiftest SyMBA does not generate huge amounts of very small fragments, grinding the model to a halt. While this value is largely empirical and dependent on each specific set of initial conditions, a good place to start is to set the minimum fragment mass threshold to be one tenth the size of the smallest body in your simulation. You can also adjust ```FRAG_REDUCTION``` to keep the number of fragments within a reasonable range. **What are the limits of Swiftest SyMBA?** -While Swifest SyMBA is a powerful tool for modeling gravitational interactions between massive bodies, it does have its limits. While Swiftest SyMBA is capable of modeling systems containing thousands of massive bodies, the code does slow down significantly. For this reason, Swiftest SyMBA is best used for systems containing tens to hundreds of fully-interacting massive bodies. It is also best used for timescales on the order of a few hundred million years or less. While it is possible to model systems on a billion year timescale, the computational power required may be beyond what is available to the average user. In these cases, it is recommended that the user consider modeling with test particles instead of massive bodies. For systems that contain mainly test particles, with few to no close encounters between massive bodies, Swiftest RMVS is likely a more appropriate tool. +While Swifest SyMBA is a powerful tool for modeling gravitational interactions between massive bodies, it does have its limits. Swiftest SyMBA is best used for systems containing tens to hundreds of fully-interacting massive bodies. It is also best used for timescales on the order of a few hundred million years or less. While it is possible to model systems on a billion year timescale, the computational power required may be beyond what is available to the average user. In these cases, it is recommended that the user consider modeling with test particles instead of massive bodies. For systems that contain mainly test particles, with few to no close encounters between massive bodies, Swiftest RMVS is likely a more appropriate tool. To get a sense of the scope of your desired simulation, it is recommended that you run your initial conditions and parameters for a just few steps. Make sure that you set ```ISTEP_OUT``` and ```DUMP_CADENCE``` to output only once the simulation is complete, not between steps. Because writing to the output files and memory takes a significant amount of computational time compared to integrating the step, we want to avoid counting writing time in our diagnostic information. The terminal output contains information about the total wall time and the wall time per integration step. To get a sense of how long your run will take to complete your desired ```tmax```, simply scale up the wall time per integration step to the number of steps necessary for ```tmax``` to be reached. Remember that writing to the output files will take a considerable amount of time. Adjust your intitial conditions and parameters accordingly.