def get_scstep(xml_tree):
    """This function extracts the self-consistent step information """
    scstep = {'time': {}, 'energy': {}}
    for isub in xml_tree:
        if isub.tag=='time': 
            scstep['time'][isub.attrib['name']] = [float(x) for x in isub.text.split()] 
        elif isub.tag == 'energy': 
            for ienergy in isub:
                scstep['energy'][ienergy.attrib['name']] = float(ienergy.text) 
    return scstep