Command: unit_conversion

NEST HelpDesk Command Index NEST Quick Reference

Name:
 unit_conversion - Conversion factors for SI units.

Description:
   Some SLI functions and tools expect numerical arguments which carry SI units.
   function/tool        expected unit
   ----------------------------------
   Simulate             ms
   current generators   pA
   voltmeters           mV
   ac_generator         Hz

   As SLI does not know any unit conversion scheme, numerical values
   need to be specified in the appropriate units. However, it improves
   readability, if a hint to the unit is specified in the program code,
   such as "333 pA", instead of just "333".
   Furthermore, it may be convenient to have other units converted to the
   ones expected by the routines. (For example, "ms" converts from milliseconds
   to timesteps, taking into account the current network resolution, see
   example below.)

   The following conversion factors are know (developers: please add others in
   nest-init.sli as convenient):
   ms, pA, mV, Hz, spikes

Examples:
   The following call always simulates 1000 ms of network time,

   1000 ms Simulate

Author:
 (unknown), documented by Ruediger Kupper, 18-jul-2003

Availability:
 This is just a description. unit_conversion is no SLI command.
SeeAlso:Hz ms pA mV spikes cvd cvi
Source:
 /home/abuild/rpmbuild/BUILD/nest-2.4.1/lib/sli/nest-init.sli

NEST HelpDesk Command Index NEST Quick Reference

© 2000-2010 The NEST Initiative