Browsing by Author "Ertl, Thomas"

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Open Access
Accelerated 2D visualization using adaptive resolution scaling and temporal reconstruction
(2023) Becher, Michael; Heinemann, Moritz; Marmann, Thomas; Reina, Guido; Weiskopf, Daniel; Ertl, Thomas
Data visualization relies on efficient rendering to allow users to interactively explore and understand their data. However, achieving interactive frame rates is often challenging, especially for high-resolution displays or large datasets. In computer graphics, several methods temporally reconstruct full-resolution images from multiple consecutive lower-resolution frames. Besides providing temporal image stability, they amortize the rendering costs over multiple frames and thus improve the minimum frame rate. We present a method that adopts this idea to accelerate 2D information visualization, without requiring any changes to the rendering itself. By exploiting properties of orthographic projection, our method significantly improves rendering performance while minimizing the loss of image quality during camera manipulation. For static scenes, it quickly converges to the full-resolution image. We discuss the characteristics and different modes of our method concerning rendering performance and image quality and the corresponding trade-offs. To improve ease of use, we provide automatic resolution scaling in our method to adapt to user-defined target frame rate. Finally, we present extensive rendering benchmarks to examine real-world performance for examples of parallel coordinates and scatterplot matrix visualizations, and discuss appropriate application scenarios and contraindications for usage.
Open Access
Analysis of hydrogen Rydberg spectra in a uniform magnetic field: uncovering the transition from regularity to irregularity in a real quantum system
(1986) Wunner, Günter; Woelk, Ulrich; Zech, Ingrid; Zeller, Gudrun; Ertl, Thomas; Geyer, Florian; Steitz, Arno; Schweizer, Wolfgang; Ruder, Hanns
Studies of the behaviour of quantum systems in a range of energy where their classical counterparts undergo transitions from regularity to irregularity, as manifested in phase space by the gradual destruction of invariant tori, to date have largely been confined to model Hamiltonian systems such as harmonic oscillators with cubic, quartic, or higher-degree polynomial corrections, or the stadium problem. We show that phenomena which have turned out characteristic of the onset of "quantum stochasticity" in these model systems can in fact be recovered in the quantal energy spectra of a "real" physical system, viz. spectra of hydrogen Rydberg atoms in strong magnetic fields. This implies that one has a simple prototype system at hand in which to study - not only in theory but also in experiment, quantitatively and in detail, and as a function of a continuously tunable external parameter - phenomena that are expected to be typical of the quantum properties of nonintegrable systems in general.
Open Access
Computersimulation in der Astrophysik
(1990) Ruder, Hanns; Ertl, Thomas; Geyer, Florian; Herold, Heinz; Kraus, Ute; Nollert, Hans-Peter; Rebetzky, Andreas; Zahn, Corvin
Unser Wissen über die Struktur des Kosmos und die darin enthaltenen Objekte stammt aus der sorgfältigen Analyse der einfallenden elektromagnetischen Strahlung, verbunden mit einer theoretischen Modellierung im Rahmen der von uns erforschten Naturgesetze. Die Beobachtungen erstrecken sich dabei heute vom Radiowellenbereich über den Infrarot-, den optischen, den Röntgenbereich bis hin zum Höchstenergie-Gamma-Bereich, also über mehr als 20 Dekaden des elektromagnetischen Spektrums. Eine realistische Modellierung der Systeme im Rahmen einer beobachtungsnahen Theorie erfordert vor allem bei Systemparameterstudien im allgemeinen den Einsatz der größten verfügbaren Rechenleistungen.
Open Access
A depth-cueing scheme based on linear transformations in tristimulus space
(2002) Weiskopf, Daniel; Ertl, Thomas
We propose a generic and flexible depth-cueing scheme which subsumes many well-known and new color-based depth-cueing approaches. In particular, it includes standard intensity depth-cueing and rather neglected pure saturation depth-cueing. A couple of new combinations and variations of depth cues are presented. Their usefulness is demonstrated in many different fields of application, reaching from non-photorealistic rendering to information visualization. In addition to cues based on a geometric concept of depth, an abstract visualization approach in the form of semantic depth-cueing is proposed. Our depth-cueing scheme is based on linear transformations in the 3D tristimulus space of colors and on weighted sums of colors. Since all of the required operations are supported by contemporary consumer graphics hardware, the depth-cueing scheme can be implemented without performance cutbacks. Therefore, any real-time rendering application can be enriched by sophisticated depth-cueing.
Open Access
The design and implementation of a presentation system for interactive 3D graphics applications
(2005) Stegmaier, Simon; Klein, Thomas; Strengert, Magnus; Ertl, Thomas
We present the design and implementation of a stand-alone system for presenting interactive 3D graphics applications and arbitrary multimedia contents to a public audience. The description includes technical details regarding the construction of a sturdy case to accommodate touchscreen, PC, video projector, and sound equipment, and details involved in the design of the presentation software. The presented system was evaluated during a week-long exhibition with several hundreds of users.
Open Access
Dynamic ontology supported user interface for personalized decision support
(2012) Bosch, Harald; Thom, Dennis; Heinze, Geoffrey-Alexeij; Wokusch, Stefan; Ertl, Thomas
European citizens are increasingly aware of the influence of air quality and weather on their health and quality of life. At the same time, more environmental information is freely available through a plethora of websites, dedicated portals, and web services. In order to exploit these data for personal decisions one has to identify, retrieve, and combine the information that is relevant to one's personal situation, planned activity, and information need. Often, this task is hindered by different data formats, display styles and data resolutions. The PESCaDO system is a web-based decision support system addressing this issue. The inquiry to the system, as well as the system's result, can cover a broad range of environmental aspects and personal situations and is therefore quite complex. In this work we present a novel approach on how the system can actively assist users in all steps of the decision making process, especially by enhancing the user interaction. This approach combines an intelligent dialog steering method based on analyzing the domain ontology with flexible, dynamic data visualizations for a situation depending orchestration of data sources. Both aspects have been evaluated in on-line user studies, as well as with an expert evaluation of the whole system.
Open Access
Effects of radiation damping on particle motion in pulsar vacuum fields
(1989) Finkbeiner, Bernd; Herold, Heinz; Ertl, Thomas; Ruder, Hanns
The effects of radiation reaction on the motion of charged particles are studied in strong electric and magnetic fields with special attention to the vacuum near-field region of an oblique rotator. For strong radiation damping a local velocity field is derived from the Lorentz-Dirac equation, which efficiently describes the motion of electrons and positrons in the whole range of typical pulsar parameters. The velocity field makes it possible to define regions in the inner magnetosphere, where particle trapping occurs due to the radiation losses. By numerical integration of particle trajectories from the pulsar surface, regions around the magnetic poles are found which are defined by particle emission into the wave zone. The shapes of the escape regions on the pulsar surface are determined to a considerable extent by the presence of the accumulation regions.
Open Access
Feature-based deformation for flow visualization
(2024) Straub, Alexander; Sadlo, Filip; Ertl, Thomas
We present an approach that supports the analysis of flow dynamics in the neighborhood of curved line-type features, such as vortex core lines, attachment lines, and trajectories. We achieve this with continuous deformation to the flow field to straighten such features. This provides “deformed frames of reference”, within which qualitative flow dynamics are better observable with respect to the feature. Our approach operates at interactive rates on graphics hardware, and supports exploration of large and complex datasets by continuously navigating the additional degree of freedom of deformation. We demonstrate the properties and the utility of our approach using synthetic and simulated flow fields, with a focus on the application to vortex core lines.
Open Access
Fremde Welten auf dem Graphikschirm : die Bedeutung der Visualisierung für die Astrophysik
(1991) Ertl, Thomas; Ruder, Hanns; Geyer, Florian; Herold, Heinz; Kraus, Ute; Münzel, Stefan; Nollert, Hans-Peter; Rebetzky, Andreas; Schweizer, Wolfgang; Zahn, Corvin
Unsere Vorstellung von der uns umgebenden Welt ist im wesentlichen durch optische Eindrücke geprägt. Durch die Beschränkungen des menschlichen Auges können wir viele Bereiche nicht direkt visuell wahrnehmen, wie z. B. atomare und kosmische Objekte, mit Lichtgeschwindigkeit ablaufende Vorgänge und elektromagnetische Strahlung außerhalb des sichtbaren Bereichs. Die Menschen versuchen aus diesem Grund seit Jahrhunderten durch kunstvolle Instrumente wie Mikroskope, Fernrohre sowie schnelle und multispektrale Detektoren die Grenzen ihrer Wahrnehmung zu erweitern . Dies ist jedoch aufgrund physikalischer Gesetze nicht im beliebigen Maße möglich. Obwohl auch die Computer selbst diesen grundsätzlichen physikalischen Beschränkungen unterliegen, sind sie doch ein Instrument, um mit Simulationsrechnungen im Rahmen der gültigen physikalischen Gesetze und durch Visualisierung der Ergebnisse diese fremden Welten sichtbar zu machen. Dies soll an einigen Beispielen, bei denen der Graphikschirm als Supermikroskop, als Riesenfernrohr und als Fenster zur Welt von Einstein dient, demonstriert werden.
Open Access
Generation of relativistic particles in pulsar magnetospheres
(1985) Herold, Heinz; Ertl, Thomas; Ruder, Hanns
The problem - fundamental for the physics of pulsars - of determining the global structure of the magnetosphere in a self-consistent way has not yet been solved satisfactorily. We report on some progress in this direction, which we have achieved by studying the trajectories of individual charged particles in the electromagnetic vacuum fields of an aligned rotator.
Open Access
Hydrogenic Rydberg atoms in strong magnetic fields: theoretical and experimental spectra in the transition region from regularity to irregularity
(1987) Holle, Armin; Wiebusch, Gerd; Main, Jörg; Welge, Karl H.; Zeller, Gudrun; Wunner, Günter; Ertl, Thomas; Ruder, Hanns
For deuterium Rydberg atoms in a magnetic field of sim6~T we compare the complete experimental spectrum in the range -190 cm-1 to -20 cm-1 with the positions and oscillator strengths of the corresponding quantum theoretically calculated photoabsorption lines. The agreement is excellent. The range of energy covered extends from the end of thel-mixing regime up to the regions where the approximate integrability of the problem is completely lost, and the corresponding classical system undergoes a transition to chaos.
Open Access
Interactive control of biomechanical animation
(1993) Ertl, Thomas; Ruder, Hanns; Allrutz, Ralf; Gruber, Karin; Günther, Michael; Hospach, Frank; Ruder, Margret; Subke, Jörg; Widmayer, Karin
Physics-based animation can be generated by performing a complete dynamical simulation of multibody systems. This leads to the solving of a complex system of differential equations in which biomechanical results for the physics of impacts are incorporated. Motion control is achieved by interactively modifying the internal torques. Realtime response requires the distribution of the workload of the computation between a high-speed compute server and the graphics workstation by means of a remote-procedure call mechanism.
Open Access
Interactive control of biomechanical animation : contribution to the GI Workshop: Visualisierung - Rolle von Interaktivitat und Echtzeit, GMD, Sankt Augustin, 2.-3. Juni 1992
(1992) Ertl, Thomas; Ruder, Hanns; Gruber, Karin; Günther, Michael; Hospach, Frank; Krebs, Thomas; Subke, Jörg; Widmayer, Karin
Physical based animation can be generated by performing a complete dynamical simulation of multi-body systems. This leads to a complex system of differential equations which has to be solved incorporating biomechanical results for the physics of impacts. Motion control is achieved by interactively modifying the internal torques. Realtime response requires the distribution of the workload of the computation between a highspeed computerserver and the graphics workstation by means of a remote procedure call mechanism.
Open Access
Kinematics and dynamics for computer animation
(1994) Ruder, Hanns; Ertl, Thomas; Gruber, Karin; Günther, Michael; Hospach, Frank; Ruder, Margret; Subke, Jörg; Widmayer, Karin
This tutorial will focus on the physical principles of kinematics and dynamics. After explaining the basic equations for point masses and rigid bodies a new approach for the dynamic simulation of multi-linked models with wobbling mass is presented, which has led to new insight in the field of biomechanics, but which has not been used in computer animation so far.
Open Access
Kinematics and dynamics for computer animation
(1991) Ruder, Hanns; Ertl, Thomas; Gruber, Karin; Günther, Michael; Hospach, Frank; Subke, Jörg; Widmayer, Karin
This tutorial will focus on the physical principles of kinematics and dynamics. After explaining the basic equations for point masses and rigid bodies a new approach for the dynamic simulation of multi-linked models with wobbling mass is presented, which has led to new insight in the field of biomechanics, but which has not been used in computer animation so far.
Open Access
Line-of-sight integration: a powerful tool for visualization of three-dimensional scalar fields
(1989) Ruder, Hanns; Ertl, Thomas; Geyer, Florian; Herold, Heinz; Kraus, Ute
An easy conceivable but very powerful method for the visualization of three-dimensional scalar fields is described. The way this method works is illustrated by some examples and the computed pictures are compared with the results of other methods of representation.
Open Access
Numerical modeling of the non-isothermal positive column of an Ar+-laser
(1992) Zech, Ingrid; Ertl, Thomas; Herold, Heinz; Ruder, Hanns; Köhler, Walter E.; Tiemann, Wilhelm
A hydrodynamic description of the positive column is used to study the radial variation of particle densities, drift velocities, temperatures and heat fluxes of electrons, singly-charged ions and neutral atoms and the radial electric field. Elastic collisions between the plasma particles and neutrals as well as Coulomb collisions between ions and electrons are taken into account. The relevant equations to solve are the balance equations of particle densities, momentum, energy and the equations for the heat fluxes for each of the three studied particle types; the Poisson equation has to be added for closure. They form a system of 13 nonlinear differential equations with critical points. One singularity occurs when the ions reach the ion sound velocity which is the case inside the positive column. Therefore, a numerical method for multipoint boundary value problems was used which can also successfully handle removable singular points. The applied relaxation method is an iterative method which demands some preliminary knowledge of the solution looked for. The necessary knowledge can be retrieved from the quasineutral model and from a simplified two-fluid model.
Open Access
Particle motion in pulsar magnetospheres
(1987) Finkbeiner, Bernd; Ertl, Thomas; Herold, Heinz; Ruder, Hanns
This report discusses some new results we found in studying the trajectories of single charged particles in the vacuum magnetosphere of a pulsar using the oblique rotator model. We believe that investigations of individual particles in the vicinity of the star can be useful for a better understanding of some fundamental problems of pulsar physics, e.g. the global structure of the magnetosphere or the pulsar radiation.
Open Access
Power overwhelming : the one with the oscilloscopes
(2024) Gralka, Patrick; Müller, Christoph; Heinemann, Moritz; Reina, Guido; Weiskopf, Daniel; Ertl, Thomas
Visualization as a discipline has to investigate its practical implications in a world steadily moving toward greener computing methods. Quantifying the power consumption of visualization algorithms is thus essential, given the ever-increasing energy needs of GPUs. Previous approaches rely on integrated sensors or invasive methods that require modifications and special test setups. However, they still suffer from imprecision from low sampling rates and integration over time. Using a high-precision, high-frequency setup via steerable oscilloscopes, we can objectively measure the resulting quality of previous approaches. This is essential to establish a ground truth, pave the way for improved modeling of power consumption in general, and enable better estimates based on the output of lower-quality sensors. We finally discuss benefits that can be drawn from the additional insight of the higher-precision setup and which additional use cases can justify the incurred costs.
Open Access
Rydberg atoms in uniform magnetic fields: uncovering the transition from regularity to irregularity in a quantum system
(1986) Wunner, Günter; Woelk, Ulrich; Zech, Ingrid; Zeller, Gudrun; Ertl, Thomas; Geyer, Florian; Schweizer, Wolfgang; Ruder, Hanns
We investigate the eigenvalue spectra of hydrogen Rydberg atoms in strong magnetic fields for manifestations of quantum stochasticity and find (i) a smooth transition from a Poisson-type to a Wigner-type distribution of level spacings in the range of energy where classical motion becomes increasingly chaotic, (ii) the occurrence of multiple avoided crossings, and (iii) connected with this, an extreme sensitivity of oscillator strengths, and thus of observable spectra, with respect to small variations of an external parameter, viz., the magnetic field strength.