def get_time_step(self):
        """
        returns current time step of simulation
        """
        time_step = c_double()
        self.library.get_time_step.argtypes = [POINTER(c_double)]
        self.library.get_time_step.restype = None
        self.library.get_time_step(byref(time_step))
        return time_step.value