A Python Instrument Control and Data Acquisition Suite for Reproducible Research

Journal Article · 01 April 2020 · IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TIM.2019.2914711· OSTI ID:1615722

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

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

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.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0012704
• OSTI ID: 1615722
• Report Number(s): BNL-213865-2020-JAAM
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 69; ISSN 0018-9456
• Publisher: IEEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING