A Python Instrument Control and Data Acquisition Suite for Reproducible Research

Koerner, Lucas J.; Caswell, Thomas A.; Allan, Daniel B.; Campbell, Stuart I.

doi:10.1109/TIM.2019.2914711

Title: A Python Instrument Control and Data Acquisition Suite for Reproducible Research

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Abstract

Tools that standardize and automate experimental data collection are needed for greater confidence in research results. The National Synchrotron Light Source-II (NSLS-II) has generated an open-source Python data acquisition, management, and analysis software suite that automates X-ray experiments and collects an experimental record that facilitates complete reproducibility. Here, we show that the NSLS-II tools are not only useful for X-ray science at large-scale facilities by presenting an add-on package that adapts these tools for use in a small laboratory with common physics and electrical engineering instruments. The composite software suite eases and automates the execution of experiments, records extensive metadata, stores data in portable containers, and speeds up the analysis through tools for comprehensive searches. In total, this software suite increases the reproducibility of laboratory experiments. We demonstrate the software via the evaluation of two lock-in amplifiers-the miniature ADA2200 and the ubiquitous Stanford Research Systems (SRS) SR810. The frequency resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, and dynamic reserve of the lock-in amplifiers are measured and presented. The usage of the software suite is described throughout these measurements so that the reader can implement the tools in their lab.

Authors:

^[1]; Caswell, Thomas A. ^[1]; Allan, Daniel B. ^[1]; Campbell, Stuart I. ^[1]

Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Publication Date:: 2020-04-01

Research Org.:: Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

OSTI Identifier:: 1615722

Report Number(s):: BNL-213865-2020-JAAM
Journal ID: ISSN 0018-9456

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012704

Resource Type:: Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 69; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 0018-9456

Publisher:: IEEE

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING

Citation Formats


                    Koerner, Lucas J., Caswell, Thomas A., Allan, Daniel B., and Campbell, Stuart I. A Python Instrument Control and Data Acquisition Suite for Reproducible Research.  United States: N. p., 2020. 
        Web.  doi:10.1109/TIM.2019.2914711.

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                    Koerner, Lucas J., Caswell, Thomas A., Allan, Daniel B., & Campbell, Stuart I. A Python Instrument Control and Data Acquisition Suite for Reproducible Research.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1109/TIM.2019.2914711

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                    Koerner, Lucas J., Caswell, Thomas A., Allan, Daniel B., and Campbell, Stuart I. 2020.  
        "A Python Instrument Control and Data Acquisition Suite for Reproducible Research".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1109/TIM.2019.2914711.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1615722.

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@article{osti_1615722,

  title        = {A Python Instrument Control and Data Acquisition Suite for Reproducible Research},

  author       = {Koerner, Lucas J. and Caswell, Thomas A. and Allan, Daniel B. and Campbell, Stuart I.},

  abstractNote = {Tools that standardize and automate experimental data collection are needed for greater confidence in research results. The National Synchrotron Light Source-II (NSLS-II) has generated an open-source Python data acquisition, management, and analysis software suite that automates X-ray experiments and collects an experimental record that facilitates complete reproducibility. Here, we show that the NSLS-II tools are not only useful for X-ray science at large-scale facilities by presenting an add-on package that adapts these tools for use in a small laboratory with common physics and electrical engineering instruments. The composite software suite eases and automates the execution of experiments, records extensive metadata, stores data in portable containers, and speeds up the analysis through tools for comprehensive searches. In total, this software suite increases the reproducibility of laboratory experiments. We demonstrate the software via the evaluation of two lock-in amplifiers-the miniature ADA2200 and the ubiquitous Stanford Research Systems (SRS) SR810. The frequency resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, and dynamic reserve of the lock-in amplifiers are measured and presented. The usage of the software suite is described throughout these measurements so that the reader can implement the tools in their lab.},

  doi          = {10.1109/TIM.2019.2914711},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1615722},
  journal      = {IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement},

  issn         = {0018-9456},

  number       = 4,

  volume       = 69,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2020},

  month        = {4}

}

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