Energy Normalization and Analog Output Units

[h h liu]

Dear Dr. Fang,

I'm a student who has just started using MCX Stuido for photon transport simulations, and when I got started I had some questions about energy normalization and the simulation output:
Energy normalization means that the total energy of the photon is 1. Is this a dimensionless value? Assuming I choose the Output type as energy density, why does the system indicate that my units are J/mm^3, and can I understand that the normalized total energy is 1J?
Can I actively set the input normalized energy to 1J or 1W?

Thank you for your answer in advance.

With kind regards, 

liu

[Qianqian Fang]

On 5/8/25 21:37, h h liu wrote:

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Dear Dr. Fang,

I'm a student who has just started using MCX Stuido for photon transport simulations, and when I got started I had some questions about energy normalization and the simulation output:
Energy normalization means that the total energy of the photon is 1. Is this a dimensionless value? Assuming I choose the Output type as energy density, why does the system indicate that my units are J/mm^3, and can I understand that the normalized total energy is 1J?
Can I actively set the input normalized energy to 1J or 1W?

yes, you can put any unit as a multipler to the source, 1J, or 1W, or 1 count.

Thank you for your answer in advance.

With kind regards, 

liu

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[h h liu]

Dear Dr. Fang,

Can I set the unit of normalization in MCX Studio software? Or is it just a matter of multiplying the result of the software simulation by the actual data, determined by the units of the actual data?

[Qianqian Fang]

I don't understand.

the entire point of my response was that the unit of the output data is in your interpretation. the output data are just numerical values, what it means physically depends on how you treat the "unitary source" it simulates.

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[Qianqian Fang]

re-reading your question, I think I misunderstood.

> Or is it just a matter of multiplying the result of the software simulation by the actual data, determined by the units of the actual data?

this is correct

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[h h liu]

Thank you Dr. Fang for your patience, with your help my problem was solved, thank you again Dr. Fang!