Definition of Term: Simulator

A simulator is a representation of some real-world system, usually implemented as a computer program. Given appropriate inputs, the outputs of the simulator are intended to represent specific properties of the real system.

Example: A simulator of a nuclear power station reactor would take as inputs a whole range of quantities describing the detailed design of the reactor and the fuel. Its outputs might include values of heat energy produced by the reactor (perhaps a sustained output level or a time series).

The essence of the MUCM toolkit is to describe ways to analyse simulator outputs using the techniques of first building an emulator.